A 24-hour bandh disrupted normal life across several valley districts of Manipur on Tuesday as the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation pressed its demand for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census. The strike affected markets, businesses, educational institutions and public transport. Most roads remained deserted during the shutdown.

The protest continued despite the Centre deferring the Census exercise in Manipur on Monday. The government decided after civil society organisations raised demands over the timing of the exercise. However, the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation said it would continue with the bandh. The group said there was no official order confirming the deferment of the Census.

The organisation had called for the NRC to be updated before the Census. Its 24-hour strike affected at least five valley districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching. Markets and business establishments remained closed. Educational institutions also stayed shut. Public movement remained limited across the affected areas.

State Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam appealed to the organisation to withdraw the protest. The appeal did not stop the bandh from going ahead. Officials said the general strike had paralysed normal life in the five valley districts on Tuesday morning.

Public transport stayed off the roads in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching. A few private vehicles were seen moving in some areas. At Yairipok in Thoubal district, bandh supporters placed bamboo poles across roads to prevent vehicles from passing. The road blockades further affected traffic movement in the area.

The Census exercise in Manipur was scheduled to begin on September 1. The Centre's decision to defer the exercise came a day before the scheduled start. The Chief Minister's Secretariat announced the decision on Monday evening after a high-level review meeting in Delhi chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The state government said the decision followed an assessment of the prevailing situation in Manipur. The meeting also discussed conducting the Census exercise before implementing the NRC. Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and other senior officials took part in the meeting.

The deferment came after civil society organisations in the state raised concerns and demanded that the NRC updation take place before the Census. The latest development showed that the government's decision did not immediately end the disagreement over the process. The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation maintained that the absence of a formal official order was a reason to continue with the strike.

Chief Minister Yumnum Khemchand Singh welcomed the Centre's decision. Singh expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for listening to the voices of the people and fulfilling the aspirations of the state's people. He also thanked BJP president Nitin Nabin for his continuous support in fulfilling the wishes of the people of Manipur, the statement said.

The bandh highlighted the continuing demand for NRC updation in Manipur and the concerns surrounding the Census process. While the Centre has put the Census exercise on hold in the state, the protest group has continued to press for clarity and action on its demand before the population count takes place.