WHY NRC IN MANIPUR TARGETS ONLY ONE COMMUNITY AND NOT MEITEI, PANGAL AND NAGAS ILLEGALLY MIGRATED FROM BANGLADESH, CACHAR AND SOMRA TRACT?
This is the biggest question in Manipur today. When NRC is discussed, people talk only about migrants from Myanmar into Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. Nobody talks about migrants from Bangladesh, Cachar into Jiribam and valley, and from Somra Tract, Myanmar into Ukhrul and Kamjong.
Is NRC only for one community?
1. What Official NRC Demand Says:
On 1st July 2026, 14 Civil Society Organisations gave memorandum to Governor of Manipur demanding NRC. The memorandum says:
- NRC must identify illegal migrants from Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar) and Mizoram
- Original inhabitants are Inpui, Kabui, Liangmai, Mao, Maram, Meitei, Poumai, Rongmei, Tangkhul, Zeme etc.
- It says Meitei Pangal population grew from 4,881 in 1881 to 2,39,886 in 2011 - growth 4,814% in 130 years. This must also be checked.
- It says hill population grew from 25,384 in 1881 to 5,49,599 in 2011 - growth 2,165%.
So on paper, NRC demand is for ALL communities - not only one.
2. Why On Ground It Looks Targeted To One Community?
A. Political Narrative After 2023:
After May 2023 violence, public narrative focused only on "Myanmarese" Chin-Kuki-Mizo in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. News channels and social media only showed Myanmar border. Nobody showed Bangladesh border in Jiribam or Somra Tract border in Ukhrul-Kamjong.
This made people feel NRC targets only Chin-Kuki-Mizo community.
B. Nagas Considered Original:
Government of India considers Naga tribes - Tangkhul, Mao, Maram, etc. - as original inhabitants because they are found in 1881 and 1901 census of Manipur.
When Naga villages shift from Somra Tract, Myanmar to Ukhrul, Kamjong, they are not counted as foreigners because they are same Tangkhul tribe. Census counts them as Indian Nagas.
But local people say this is still migration from Somra Tract that increases Ukhrul population unnaturally - 824% growth from 1901 to 2011 and many new villages registered after 1970.
C. Meitei and Pangal Considered Original:
Meiteis are recorded since 33 AD and Pangals since 1606 when King Khagemba settled them after marrying Manipuri women. So they are considered old settlers.
But later migration also happened:
- From Bangladesh and Cachar: In Jiribam, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching - Bengali Muslims and Bengali Hindus came for labour and business after 1947 and 1971 war. Jiribam decadal growth was 40-50% in 1960s-70s, double the state average.
- From Cachar: Many Meitei Pangal and Meitei families also migrated from Cachar to Jiribam and valley for business.
This migration is never discussed in NRC debate.
3. Three Borders, Three Migrations:
Manipur has three porous borders:
- Western Border - Bangladesh and Cachar: Migration into Jiribam, Imphal valley. Mostly Bengali Muslims, Bengali Hindus, some Meitei Pangal from Cachar.
- Eastern Border - Somra Tract, Myanmar: Migration into Ukhrul, Kamjong, Senapati. Mostly Tangkhul Naga from Somra Tract.
- Southern Border - Chin State, Myanmar: Migration into Churachandpur, Chandel, Kangpokpi. Mostly Chin-Kuki-Mizo tribes.
If NRC is done, it must check all three borders, not only one.
4. Why Government Is Not Doing NRC For All?
Government says NRC base year must be 1951 - based on 1951 Village Directory, 1951 Electoral Roll, and land records (Jamabandi).
- Problem: Valley had land settlement and jamabandi in 1951, so valley migrants from Bangladesh/Cachar can be detected easily through land records.
- Hills had no land settlement in 1951 - hills were under chieftain system, no jamabandi. So migrants from Somra Tract and Chin State cannot be detected through jamabandi, only through 1951 Village Directory.
That is why Naga groups support NRC - they want to detect new villages from Somra Tract that are not in 1951 Village Directory but are now in Ukhrul and Kamjong.
Conclusion:
NRC in Manipur must not target one community.
Real NRC means:
1. NRC for whole Manipur equally: Check Jiribam and Imphal for migrants from Bangladesh and Cachar, check Ukhrul and Kamjong for migrants from Somra Tract, check Churachandpur and Kangpokpi for migrants from Myanmar.
2. Same base year 1951 for all: Person or village not in 1951 records should be declared migrant - whether he is Meitei, Pangal, Naga or Chin-Kuki-Mizo.
3. Publish village-wise data: Government must publish 1951, 1971, 2001 village directories so people can see which villages are new.
If NRC is only used to target one community and protects illegal migrants from Bangladesh, Cachar and Somra Tract in other communities, then NRC will not bring peace - it will bring more hatred.
NRC must be for justice for all original inhabitants - Meitei, Pangal, Naga and Chin-Kuki-Mizo - not a weapon against one community.
Follow..
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCrotHIiRoxPSpOdk3K
This is the biggest question in Manipur today. When NRC is discussed, people talk only about migrants from Myanmar into Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. Nobody talks about migrants from Bangladesh, Cachar into Jiribam and valley, and from Somra Tract, Myanmar into Ukhrul and Kamjong.
Is NRC only for one community?
1. What Official NRC Demand Says:
On 1st July 2026, 14 Civil Society Organisations gave memorandum to Governor of Manipur demanding NRC. The memorandum says:
- NRC must identify illegal migrants from Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar) and Mizoram
- Original inhabitants are Inpui, Kabui, Liangmai, Mao, Maram, Meitei, Poumai, Rongmei, Tangkhul, Zeme etc.
- It says Meitei Pangal population grew from 4,881 in 1881 to 2,39,886 in 2011 - growth 4,814% in 130 years. This must also be checked.
- It says hill population grew from 25,384 in 1881 to 5,49,599 in 2011 - growth 2,165%.
So on paper, NRC demand is for ALL communities - not only one.
2. Why On Ground It Looks Targeted To One Community?
A. Political Narrative After 2023:
After May 2023 violence, public narrative focused only on "Myanmarese" Chin-Kuki-Mizo in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. News channels and social media only showed Myanmar border. Nobody showed Bangladesh border in Jiribam or Somra Tract border in Ukhrul-Kamjong.
This made people feel NRC targets only Chin-Kuki-Mizo community.
B. Nagas Considered Original:
Government of India considers Naga tribes - Tangkhul, Mao, Maram, etc. - as original inhabitants because they are found in 1881 and 1901 census of Manipur.
When Naga villages shift from Somra Tract, Myanmar to Ukhrul, Kamjong, they are not counted as foreigners because they are same Tangkhul tribe. Census counts them as Indian Nagas.
But local people say this is still migration from Somra Tract that increases Ukhrul population unnaturally - 824% growth from 1901 to 2011 and many new villages registered after 1970.
C. Meitei and Pangal Considered Original:
Meiteis are recorded since 33 AD and Pangals since 1606 when King Khagemba settled them after marrying Manipuri women. So they are considered old settlers.
But later migration also happened:
- From Bangladesh and Cachar: In Jiribam, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching - Bengali Muslims and Bengali Hindus came for labour and business after 1947 and 1971 war. Jiribam decadal growth was 40-50% in 1960s-70s, double the state average.
- From Cachar: Many Meitei Pangal and Meitei families also migrated from Cachar to Jiribam and valley for business.
This migration is never discussed in NRC debate.
3. Three Borders, Three Migrations:
Manipur has three porous borders:
- Western Border - Bangladesh and Cachar: Migration into Jiribam, Imphal valley. Mostly Bengali Muslims, Bengali Hindus, some Meitei Pangal from Cachar.
- Eastern Border - Somra Tract, Myanmar: Migration into Ukhrul, Kamjong, Senapati. Mostly Tangkhul Naga from Somra Tract.
- Southern Border - Chin State, Myanmar: Migration into Churachandpur, Chandel, Kangpokpi. Mostly Chin-Kuki-Mizo tribes.
If NRC is done, it must check all three borders, not only one.
4. Why Government Is Not Doing NRC For All?
Government says NRC base year must be 1951 - based on 1951 Village Directory, 1951 Electoral Roll, and land records (Jamabandi).
- Problem: Valley had land settlement and jamabandi in 1951, so valley migrants from Bangladesh/Cachar can be detected easily through land records.
- Hills had no land settlement in 1951 - hills were under chieftain system, no jamabandi. So migrants from Somra Tract and Chin State cannot be detected through jamabandi, only through 1951 Village Directory.
That is why Naga groups support NRC - they want to detect new villages from Somra Tract that are not in 1951 Village Directory but are now in Ukhrul and Kamjong.
Conclusion:
NRC in Manipur must not target one community.
Real NRC means:
1. NRC for whole Manipur equally: Check Jiribam and Imphal for migrants from Bangladesh and Cachar, check Ukhrul and Kamjong for migrants from Somra Tract, check Churachandpur and Kangpokpi for migrants from Myanmar.
2. Same base year 1951 for all: Person or village not in 1951 records should be declared migrant - whether he is Meitei, Pangal, Naga or Chin-Kuki-Mizo.
3. Publish village-wise data: Government must publish 1951, 1971, 2001 village directories so people can see which villages are new.
If NRC is only used to target one community and protects illegal migrants from Bangladesh, Cachar and Somra Tract in other communities, then NRC will not bring peace - it will bring more hatred.
NRC must be for justice for all original inhabitants - Meitei, Pangal, Naga and Chin-Kuki-Mizo - not a weapon against one community.
Follow..
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCrotHIiRoxPSpOdk3K
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