Source: Agencies
Imphal, August 05:
Thousands of Manipur government civil employees today took a day's mass casual leave to press for immediate withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state as the situation was reported tense at many places, official sources said.
According to first official reports almost all the government offices wore deserted look as the employees except the level of drawing and disbursing officers or above went on one day casual leave.
The employees had taken the leave after a decision was taken some days ago by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of different employees associations to press for immediate withdrawal of the Act which gave extra powers to central security forces deployed here, they said.
However, employees of Manipur secretariat service attended office as they belong to Manipur State Secretariat Association, which is different from JAC, the sources said.
Manipur government has about 80,000 employees.
Meanwhile, the situation was tense at many places amidst reports that hundreds of people are likely to court arrest during curfew relaxation hours in Imphal and Greater Imphal areas.
Police, CRPF and Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed at Wangkhei, Khurai, Sanjenthong Tera, Uripok, Yaiskul, Keisampat, Thangmeiband, Kongba, Singjamei, Kwakeithel and other areas of Imphal and Greater Imphal to prevent any untoward incident.