Imphal: The Centre is likely to announce a deferment of the Census exercise in Manipur before the state Assembly session begins on September 2, civil society organisations (CSOs) said on Friday.

A delegation representing indigenous communities, including Meitei, Naga and Meitei Pangal groups, returned to Imphal after a week-long visit to New Delhi, where it held discussions with central officials and political leaders over its demand for an update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census.

The delegation, which travelled to the national capital on August 20, met officials including the North East security adviser and representatives of the Intelligence Bureau. It briefed the media at Imphal International Airport after returning on Friday.

Shanta Nahakpam, spokesperson for 14 CSOs under Kangleipak, said the delegation highlighted concerns over the alleged presence of illegal immigrants in Manipur and reiterated its demand for an NRC exercise during the meetings.

According to Nahakpam, the discussions indicated that the Centre could defer the Census in the state. He said the next step should be a tripartite dialogue involving the Manipur government, the Centre and civil society groups to determine how illegal immigrants, if identified, should be dealt with.

He said the mechanism could involve provisions under the Foreigners Act or the NRC, but any decision should be taken after consultations with all stakeholders. Several civil society groups have been staging protests and other forms of agitation demanding that the NRC be updated before the Census is conducted in Manipur.

The groups have argued that conducting the Census amid the continuing fallout of the conflict and concerns over illegal immigration could affect the accuracy of the exercise and impact the interests of the state’s indigenous population.