Students demand NRC implementation in Manipur, hold rally in Imphal

Demanding implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur, the Imphal valley students from different educational institutions took to the streets and held a rally on Saturday.

The rally was spearheaded by All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Democratic Students' Association Manipur (DESAM), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Students Union of Kangleipak (SUK) and Apunba Imagi Maheirol Singpanglup (AIMS).

The rally began from Imphal College in Tiddim road and headed towards Raj Bhavan. However, the students were intercepted and averted by the police near Raj Bhavan.

During the rally, the students displayed banners and placards with slogans such as- "Detect and deport illegal immigrants; We demand the Centre to implement NRC in Manipur."

Briefing the media during the rally, one of the student leaders said the students, civil society organisations had been demanding implementation of NRC in Manipur for many years. However, the state and the central governments have not been responding to the demands and no steps have been taken up till date.

Stating that many Myanmar nationals were detained by the security forces recently in Moreh, the General Secretary also said that there has been attempts for population invasion by certain communities by taking opportunity of the ongoing crisis in Manipur.

In the initial stage of the violence, though the state and central government had claimed that SoO cadres are present in their designated camp, recent media reports have surfaced that the SoO cadres were not found in the designated camp, he added. DESAM leader further said that the state government and Centre must stop fooling the people with such lies.