IMPHAL, Oct 8: The Manipur government has issued a
notification, advising against renaming of districts and
institutions without its prior approval, contending that such a
move could create conflict among communities and
aggravate the current law and order situation.
Anyone found violating the directive shall be prosecuted
under relevant laws, it said.
Over 180 people lost their lives and several hundreds have
been injured since ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on
May 3, after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the
hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s
demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
“No one shall make or attempt to make any deliberate act of
renaming districts, sub-divisions, places, institutions and
address of such institutions without the approval of the state
government,” the order issued by chief secretary Vineet Joshi
said.
“It has come to the notice of the state government of
Manipur from reliable sources that many civil society
organisations, institutions, establishments and persons are
deliberately renaming or trying to rename districts… which
are objectionable, or likely to create controversy and conflict
between communities residing in the state, more particularly
in the context of the ongoing law and order crisis…,” the
notification said.
The matter is viewed with “utmost sensitivity as the same
practice… is likely to create divide or aggravate the current
law and order situation in the state, “ it said.
The missive comes shortly after a Churachandpur-based Zo
outfit christened the district as ‘Lamka’.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s
population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals —
Nagas and Kukis — constitute little over 40 per cent and
reside in the hill districts. (PTI)
