Despite the Manipur government’s warning of ‘No work, no pay’, all government offices in Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts were closed on Monday thereby recording very thin to no attendance.
The closure of the offices in the two Kuki-dominated districts came about following the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum’s (ITLF) call to all government employees in the districts refrain from attending work.
The call which came on February 17 stated that all state government offices will be closed from Monday until further notice. The notice also directed employees not to attend offices along with a general threat to all concerned that they would be responsible for consequences if not followed.
The call came about over the suspension of a head constable of the Manipur police in who was allegedly seen with armed men in a viral video grab.
Following the order, government offices wore a deserted look while any government employees were hardly seen. Offices of the public works department, agriculture, fishery and forest department in both Churachandpur andPherzawl districts remained closed.
Employees who went to offices returned after finding no staff in the office, an official told the IFP.
The tribal group is demanding the cancellation of the suspension of Siamlalpaul -- a head constable of the Churachandpur district police.
Following the ITLF’s notice, the Home Department of Manipur on Sunday said, “No one shall or attempt to make any deliberate effort to follow or enforce the above notice at any cost.”
It added that anyone found violating the state government’s order “ shall be booked and prosecuted under relevant provision of law of land”. Further, the Home Department said a ‘no work, no pay’ policy shall be imposed against any employee who doesn’t attend their duty without authorised leave.
The government asked all District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police of all districts to take up necessary actions to enforce its orders.
Our Correspondent added that all government offices in Churachandpur, except those exempted like electricity, medical, education related and financial institutions, remained closed on Monday following the ITLF notice to close them.
The notice came about after the forum came up with a 10-point decision and demand made on February 16, 2024 in the aftermath of the mob violence against the suspension of police head constable by the SP of Churachandpur.
Among others, the ITLF and other sister organisations, on February 16, 2024, had demanded Churachandpur DC Dharun Kumar and SP of Churachandpur Shivanand Surve to leave Churachandpur district alleging that they are responsible for ordering the firing that led to the death of two people. They also demanded that the suspension of the police head constable be revoked within 24 hrs, failing which they will close all government offices and the responsibility for any untoward incident will fall on the DC and SP.
No offices were opened on Monday, the first working day after the decision to close was made. Moreover, there has been no news if any of the demands were met.
Amid all these developments, there was no report of any untoward incident in Churachandpur district till the filing of this report.
