The Manipur government has released an official notification, cautioning against the renaming of districts and institutions without prior approval. The rationale behind this advisory is rooted in the belief that such actions might potentially lead to conflicts among different communities and exacerbate the existing law and order issues.
The directive explicitly states that individuals found in violation of this policy will be subject to legal prosecution under the applicable laws.
Since ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3, following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' organized in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status, the region has witnessed a tragic loss of over 180 lives, with hundreds more sustaining injuries.
The official order, issued by Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi, declares that "no one shall make or attempt to make any deliberate act of renaming districts, sub-divisions, places, institutions, and the addresses of such institutions without the approval of the state government."
The notification elaborates that the state government of Manipur has received credible information that various civil society organizations, institutions, establishments, and individuals have been engaged in the deliberate renaming or attempted renaming of districts. These actions are considered objectionable and have the potential to ignite controversy and conflict among the communities residing in the state, particularly in light of the ongoing law and order crisis.
The government views this matter with great sensitivity, recognizing that such practices may exacerbate divisions and further worsen the current state of law and order within the state.
This advisory was issued following an incident where a Zo organization based in Churachandpur renamed the district as ‘Lamka.’
In terms of demographics, Meiteis constitute approximately 53 percent of Manipur's population, primarily residing in the Imphal Valley. On the other hand, the tribal communities, including Nagas and Kukis, make up just over 40 percent of the population and are primarily concentrated in the hill districts.
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