In the ongoing communal clashes, a good number of locations and places belonging to the non-tribal who fled from their homesteads in fear for their lives were renamed the districts predominantly inhabited by the tribal in the southern parts of Manipur.

Against this backdrop, the Manipur government prohibited and warned those deliberately renaming or attempting to rename districts, sub-divisions, places, institutions, and their addresses. In an order, Manipur Chief Secretary Dr Vineet Joshi states that anyone found violating this order shall be prosecuted under the relevant law of the land.

The state government has taken prompt steps after the Committee on Protection of Meitei Victims in Moreh (Tengnoupal district) addresses of the Meiteis and their localities have been found to be renamed on the PMJAY cards of the Kuki names. Apart from this, individuals and civil society organizations have been found using Lamka in place of the Churachandpur district which is predominantly inhabited by the Kukis.

“The State Government views the matter very seriously with utmost sensitivity as the same practice cited above may create mistrust amongst the communities and is likely to create a divide or aggravate the current law and order situation in the State,” the order states.

It also warns that no one shall make or attempt to make any deliberate act of renaming districts, sub-divisions, places, institutions, and addresses of such institutions without the approval of the State Government.