New Delhi: Nagaland will not allow refugees from Manipur to change the address on their Aadhaar cards because that might lead to “future complications”
The government issued an order on 11 July, directing all Aadhaar operators and common services centres (CSCs) not to entertain any request for a change of address.
The order said the government had noticed that “some displaced Kukis from Manipur had approached CSC operator for change of address in their Aadhaar”.
“This order is issued for strict compliance,” the order said, and was sent to the chairman of the Kuki community in the state’s Medziphema town, as well as the village council chairpersons of Molvom, Maova, Sirhima, Khaibung and Bungsang.
The destructive unrest in Manipur since 3 May has displaced thousands of people, with many taking refuge in Mizoram and Nagaland.
The ethnic clashes between the valley-based majority Hindu Meiteis and the hill-based Christian tribes, the Kukis, were triggered by the Meiteis’ demand for the Scheduled Tribe status.
According to police data, the widespread ethnic clashes have resulted in the loss of over 157 lives and displaced more than 50,000 people.
A report by The Morung Express on 23 June said approximately 2,100 displaced Kukis from Manipur had sought refuge in Nagaland, with around 1,200 of them taking shelter in the Medziphema sub-division.
Sources said the order aims to maintain the integrity of the Aadhaar documents, while also safeguarding the ethnic identity of locals.