Manipur: The Manipur government has ordered the closure of educational institutions across the state for four days amid continuing concerns over the law and order situation.
According to an official order, all educational institutions will remain shut from August 20 to 23. The directive covers schools affiliated with the Board of Secondary Education Manipur, Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur and Central Board of Secondary Education, as well as other schools operating in the state.
The shutdown also extends to government, aided and private colleges, higher education institutions and universities.
Officials have directed deputy commissioners, zonal education officers and other concerned authorities to communicate the order to institutions within their respective jurisdictions.
The decision comes as normal activities have been affected in several valley districts amid a 48-hour shutdown called by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), a Meitei organisation. The group is demanding that the Census exercise be undertaken only after an exercise to identify undocumented migrants through an NRC.
The demand has become a contentious issue in the state. Meitei organisations have been seeking an NRC to identify people they allege entered Manipur from neighbouring countries after 1951. Kuki groups, however, have opposed the narrative and accused Meitei organisations of portraying members of their community as undocumented migrants.
The agitation has also affected preparations for the Census. The students’ wing of the JFD has staged protests in recent days, including disruptions at the Directorate of Census Operations office in Imphal East and at centres conducting training for Census personnel.
In a separate order issued on Wednesday, authorities in Lilong cancelled the appointments of supervisors, enumerators and field trainers associated with the Census Training Programme.
The latest developments come as authorities continue to monitor the situation across Manipur, with the temporary closure of educational institutions aimed at preventing disruption and ensuring the safety of students and staff.
