Moreh Meetei villages altered with Chin-Kuki names
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 01 2025: In a suspected case of fraud involving government employees, the original names of Meetei villages in Moreh have been found modified in government documents with Chin-Kuki nomenclatures, raising concerns over a deliberate attempt to erase Meetei villages in the border town.

Addressing media persons in this regard at Akampat Relief camp, here, on Tuesday, Committee on Protection of Meitei Victims, Moreh convenor Thangjam Budha Meitei alleged that deliberate attempts are being made to erase Meetei villages in Moreh by altering the names of five villages and incorporating Chin-Kuki names.

Equating distortion of the original names of the said settlements to attempt by the Chin-Kuki to assert control over Moreh by claiming these villages as their ancestral land, Budha pointed out that Meeteis have been living in the said areas since the time when Moreh was a jungle.

He stated that upon checking the birth certificate of a resident of Moreh Ward No 9, Khunou Leikai, who is currently taking shelter at the Akampat Relief Camp, it was found that the address had been altered to Khunou Leikai Ward No 9 (Chikim), Moreh, Tengnoupal.

Similarly, in another case, the name Khunou Leikai was regarded as Village/Ward Pheicham Veng, Moreh Khunou Tehsil on the ration card of another individual.

Thangjam Budha further informed that five Meetei villages - Moreh Ward No 6 Tali Road, Moreh Bazaar; Moreh Ward No 7 Turel Wangma Leikai, Heinou Makhong Leikai; Moreh Ward No 9 Khunou Leikai; Moreh Ward No 8 Dharma Sala Maning Leikai; and Moreh Ward No 4 Premnagar Leikai, had existed long before the Kulds set foot in the town.

He urged the state government to intervene and take necessary action to rectify the alterations of Meetei villages' names in official records.

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