Jiri VDF Join Stir, Road Blocks Put Up Along Imphal-Ukhrul Road
VDF bandh causes little ripple, little impact
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 07 2013: The indefinite Manipur bandh called by the All Manipur VDF Welfare Association has so far caused little impact on the normal life of people.

The association called the bandh since last midnight protesting against alleged inhuman treatment of VDF personnel by some police officers and demanding increment of their monthly salary.

Around 300 VDF personnel posted in Jiribam have also joined the stir.

Speaking to reporters, members of VDF WA, Jiribam urged the Government to fulfil their genuine demand immediately.

They also conveyed that they would take part in every agitation chalked out by AMVDFWA until the demand to hike honorarium is fulfilled.

All kinds of passenger services including inter-State bus service, inter-district bus and other passenger-carrier services were only slightly affected much though the quantum was reduced a bit.

Business transactions went on as usual in Khwairamband market and there was no impact on attendance in Government offices.

Road blocks put up along Imphal-Ukhrul road

Nonetheless, some bandh supporters put logs across Imphal-Ukhrul road at Sawombung in the morning.

But the bandh supporters were driven away by police after firing tear gas shells and the road was promptly re-opened.

It was said that the bandh supporters who tried to block Imphal-Ukhrul road at Sawombung included VDF personnel posted at Sawom-bung, Sagolmang, Lamlai and Yaingangpokpi.

Meanwhile, the association has condemned dismissal of 12 VDF personnel in connection with the agitation in Thoubal district.

"We are only demanding some increment in our salaries and prevention of using VDF personnel by some police officers like slaves", they said.

They maintained that the salary given to them did not commensurate the duties assigned to them.

"Our duties are no less than duties assigned to well-paid policemen.

At the time of 'collecting' money, we do the collection part while one police man would do the calculation part", the aggrieved VDFs said.

Until and unless the practice of using VDF personnel like slaves in the domestic works of police officers is stopped, the monthly salary is not increased and the dismissed 12 VDF personnel are not reinstated, the agitation would go on.

There are 10,000 VDF personnel in the State and they paid Rs 20,000 to Rs 90,000 at the time of recruitment, they added.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the All Manipur VDF Welfare Association has conveyed they would call off the agitation if the Government revokes its order of disengaging 12 VDF personnel and release all other personnel without any condition who have been arrested in connection with the ongoing agitation.

While welcoming the Chief Minister's invitation for dialogue, the association maintained that they would only intensify the agitation if their above mentioned demands are not translated into action immediately.

On the other hand, Tangkhul civil organisations; TKL and TSL have pledged to the ongoing agitation of VDFs.

TKL and TSL observed that the demands raised by VDF personnel are genuine and deserve immediate attention of the Government.