Names found changed: COPMeV
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 18 2025: The Committee on Protection of Meetei Victims (COPMeV), Moreh, has raised serious concerns, alleging that certain Manipur Government officials may be colluding with a section of the Kuki community in a deliberate attempt to erase the historical presence of the Meetei people in the border town Moreh.

COPMeV has come out with the charge just one day after the Meitei Council, Moreh were purportedly told by Government officials that the names of Meitei localities have not been changed in the Government portal.

Speaking to the media at the relief camp set up at Ideal Girls College at Akampat, COPMeV chairman Leishangthem Inaocha stated that Meetei families have been living in Moreh for generations, long before the outbreak of violence on May 3, 2023, when Kuki groups allegedly launched coordinated attacks on Meetei homes, setting houses ablaze and assaulting residents at Keinou Makhong Leikai, Moreh Khunou Leikai, Moreh Turel Wangma, Moreh Premnagar and localities at Moreh Bazar.

Stating that all Meetei residents have fled Moreh and are now languishing in various relief camps, he alleged that the names of their original localities at Moreh were found omitted from official documents such as health cards, NAFSA cards etc being reissued to them.

COPMeV had lodged a complaint with Manipur authorities in August 2023 after discovering that the names of their localities had been altered in official records, he said and added that affected Meetei residents burned the reissued documents bearing the modified locality names.

Inaocha further stated that the names of Meetei localities at Moreh were found to have been replaced with non existent Kuki names such as Chikim Veng, Phaichom Veng, and Monphai and some were not available in the IDP Management Portal, despite residents having registered using their original locality names as recorded in their Aadhaar cards.

He elaborated that the address of Ahanthem Ibohal of Moreh Turel Wangma, Ward No 7, as recorded in his Aadhaar card, was replaced with 'Monphai' in his health card and a similar case occurred with Sarungbam Langlei Devi of Moreh Khunou Leikai, whose address appeared as 'Chikim Veng' in her health card.

Likewise, the address of Laisom Lukhoi from Moreh Ward, as stated in his Aadhaar card, was marked as 'Not Available' in the address section of his health card, he added.

Stating that they submitted their Aadhaar cards when applying for new health cards, yet the discrepancies persist, he alleged that some Manipur Government officials may be scheming to erase the historical presence of the Meetei community at the border town.

The clarification from ADC Moreh and certain Government officials claiming that no Meetei villages have been renamed is unfortunate and misleading, he criticised.

Continuing that internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Moreh may encounter difficulties in claiming insurance coverage through their health cards, as the addresses listed do not match those on their Aadhaar cards, Inaocha urged the relevant authorities to take immediate corrective action by restoring and officially recognizing the original locality names in all official documents and identification cards.

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