IMPHAL Feb 4 UNA : Alleged government apathy in addressing their demand for hiking their salaries, members of the Village Defense Force (VDF) which was set up by Manipur government to assist the police in maintaining law and order, have launched an indefinite cease work strike from Monday by surrendering arms..
If the demand is not met by Wednesday (February 6) then they would impose an indefinite statewide bandh in Manipur from next day (February 7), said a leader of the agitating All Manipur VDF’s Welfare Association, adding that the cease work strike would also be continued.
The leader who prefers to omit his name alleged that they (VDFs) were utilized by the higher police officers for their own personal works apart from removing them from service without any valid reason and sly appointment by the State Government while drawing government’s attention to stop such practices immediately.
He further appealed to the public for supporting the cause of the aggrieved VDF members.
Not enough with the bulk of policemen recruited since 2002 under Centre sponsored Modernization of Police Schemes in Manipur, state government has recruited over 10,000 Special Police Officers (SPOs) later renamed as Village Defense Force (VDF) beginning from 2009 for manning the shortage manpower in 45 police stations across the insurgency infested state.
Manipur government had taken the decision to establish VDF posts across the state, first in four valley districts and later extended to hill districts, after 300 SPOs were recruited for guarding the Heirok village in Thoubal district, who confronted with militants after three villagers including two girls were killed in an indiscriminating firing by the cadres of the banned People Revolutionary Army of Kangleipak (PREPAK) during holy festival in March 2008.
Initially, government recruited the VDFs only for one year with the approval of Union ministry of home affairs till the filling up of the regular vacancies in the police stations. MHA has to reimburse the expenditure incurred in the payment of remuneration of the VDFs under the security related expenditure scheme of the Centre.
The VDF personnel were engaged by the state government on payment of Rs 3000 per month with extra ration money for each month and they (VDFs) have been demanding hiking of their monthly remuneration citing that the amount was not suited with time, the VDF leader asserted.
VDF personnel in different posts in valley areas down their arms and abstained from attending duties, the leader claimed.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/vdf-on-stir/
