Don't engage VDF in anti-poppy drive: Assn
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 02 2023:
All Manipur VDF Welfare Association has urged the state government not to engage VDF personnel for destruction of poppy plantation across districts from Thursday onwards as it has failed to provide service security to them as well as considering its inaction in the missing case VDF member N Premananda Singh of Thoubal district who was part of a team sent for destroying poppy plantations.
In a release, Association's publicity secretary Md Sirajuddin stated that a meeting of its central committee and 16 district leaders was held on Wednesday and it resolved that VDF personnel should not be deployed in district other their home district unless government assures service security for them.
In the recruitment rules, it is clearly mentioned that VDF personnel should be posted in their home district for assisting in the maintenance of law and order.
Hence, if any VDF personnel is deployed by the SP concerned to other districts for destroying poppy plantation, then the responsibility of any untoward incident should be borne by the state government and the SP concerned, it cautioned.
The Association also informed that the meet further resolved that the government should agree to give VDF personnel the same privilege, power and function provided to police, MR and IRB in case they are to be deployed for destruction of poppy plantations.