Meitei localities changed to Kuki names : Moreh IDPs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 15 2025: Absence of names of Moreh Meetei/Meitei localities on the IDPs Management Portal has hindered online registration of displaced Meiteis from the border town, the Committee on Protection of Meetei Victims' Moreh (COPMeV) has asserted.

Moreh, the border in Tengnoupal district, has five Meetei localities--Heinoumakhong Leikai, Khunou Leikai, Premnagar Mongyamba Leikai, Turel Wangma Leikai and Moreh Bazar Khongnangthaba Leikai.

However, on Google Maps, these original names of the localities have been found removed and replaced by Kuki names, said COPMeV in a statement.

While the Commissioner (Home) has issued an order for online registration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), the Government's IDPs Management Portal has no mention of the original names of the Meetei Leikais, causing confusion and hindering the registration process, it said.

The Meeteis of Moreh, displaced by the ongoing conflict, do not wish to register themselves in the IDPs Management Portal under the false names of localities, it added.

Notably, the changing of names of Meetei localities was detected some time back, and the displaced Meeteis, under COPMeV had submitted multiple memoranda to the Government and authorities to correct and retain the original names of the localities.

Registering strong protest, the Meeteis of Moreh staying in relief camps across the valley had burnt their ration and PMJAY cards bearing Kuki names of localities, and urged the Government to take corrective steps.

In August 2023, COPMeV had flagged that the Moreh Heinoumakhong Leikai and Turel Wangma Leikai had been renamed Chikim Village, Khunou Leikai as T Yangnom Village, Moreh Bazar Khongnangthaba Leikai as D Monophai Village, and Moreh Premnagar Mongyamba Leikai as Phaicham Village.

In their statement today, COPMeV said despite repeated appeals, the Government has not taken any steps to correct and retain the original names of the Meetei localities.

Until the original names of the localities are reflected on the IDPs Management Portal, the displaced people of Moreh will not register themselves in the portal.

Also, the registration process must be halted until the original names are retained, COPMeV asserted.

It may be mentioned here that the State Assembly on March 4, 2024 had passed the Manipur Names of Places Bill 2024 to curb illegal changing of names of places.

The Act bans renaming of places without the approval consent of the competent Government authority, making it punishable by upto 3 years in jail and a fine of Rs 3 lakh.

Meanwhile, highlighting another immediate issue that needs attention, COPMeV said the Government has not treated the IDPs equally.

There are IDPs staying in relief camps and IDPs staying outside relief camps with friends and families.

While they have been equally affected and devastated by the conflict, the IDPs staying outside the relief camps have not been given their due shares of aid and assistance by the Government, COPMeV said.

After being forcibly displaced from their hometown and losing everything to the conflict, all the internally displaced persons and families, regardless of where they are staying, are suffering without any stable work and source of income.

They should be treated equally and given the aid fairly, the committee said.

For 2025, the IDPs staying outside relief camps have been provided 10 Kg rice, 2 Kg Dal, half-litre edible oil (per head per month) in January and April.

Other than these, they have not been given any other aids and materials, said COPMeV.

In case the Government is unable to protect and safeguard the IDPs and give them the needed aid fairly, the Meeteis of Moreh should be allowed to return to their hometown and work to feed and sustain their families, it asserted.

If the Government doesn't take up immediate steps to address the plight of the displaced people, COPMeV, with the support of the people, may launch stringent agitation, it cautioned.

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