The dread stems from Chapter 13 Verse 17 of the Book of Revelations in the Bible which says, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark or the name of the Beast or the number of his name.” The problem has stemmed from the Unique Identification Authority of India stipulating that no one could buy or sell property without the Unique ID card. According to adherents of the belief, since buying or selling of property made one a follower of the Beast, one having the UID card, which authorised property transactions, automatically made one a follower of the Devil.
Those refusing to be enumerated belong to the Mizoram Presbyterian Church and the Baptist Church of Mizoram.
Champhai District Magistrate Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said when he summoned Lalzawna the leader and high priest of a sect, he was told that his religious belief would not permit him to register his name and he was ready to face any punishment. Serchhip Deputy Commissioner said that adherents of the belief claimed they had the religious freedom to disobey the government and were not afraid of punitive action.
“They are not afraid of being prosecuted for their beliefs as they are more afraid of being identified with the Devil,” one enumerator said.
The Presbyterian Church Synod, the highest decision making body of the largest Church in the state on June 13 issued a message to all members asking them to cooperate with census officials as it was the duty of every citizen to do so.
Trouble with numbers
Reports of district magistrates state that 939 families have refused to registered in the NPR
In Aizawl district, 483 families have refused to register in the census, including 132 from Aizawl city and 158 families in Champhai
In Serchhip district, 135 families refused to be enumerated
Over 130 families from Lawngtlai and 33 families from Kolasib district have refused register themselves in the 2011 Census
