Imphal/Guwahati
The Biren Singh government has issued a notification, advising against renaming districts and institutions without its prior approval and warned of “prosecution under relevant laws”.
“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 order issued by Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi said.
“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 notification maintained.
Anyone found violating the directive shall be prosecuted under relevant laws, it cautioned and outlined that 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”.
“All Central and State government authorities, management, institutions, establishment, autonomous bodies are also advised to check the name or address of respective offices/establishments under them in all signage, official communications, websites, all documents related to services provided, etc., and also to ensure compliance of the orders,” the order said.
The Government issued the order after a Churachandpur-based Zo outfit christened the district as ‘Lamka’.
Nearly 200 people have 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.
