Bishnupur VDF joins Statewide 'Arm-Down, Pen-Down' strike, holds sit-in protest
Source: The Sangai Express

Moirang, January 08 2026: As part of the statewide 'arm-down, pendown' strike launched by the Village Defence Force (VDF) from December 23, 205, the VDF personnel of Bishnupur district on Thursday joined the agitation by staging a sit-in protest at Oinam Kangjeibung Ground in Bishnupur district.

The statewide strike has been initiated to press for the long-pending demands of the VDF, including regularisation of service, revision of pay structure, and implementation of Section 18 of the Police Act, 1861, among others.

The protest demonstration, organised by the Bishnupur District VDF Welfare Association, saw the participation of around 1,350 VDF personnel from across the district.

The demonstrators displayed placards bearing slogans such as "Governor and Government - Hear the Voice of VDF", "One Voice One Demand", "Justice for VDF", "All VDF Stands Together For Our Rights", "Our Demands are Legitimate," while raising similar slogans during the protest.

Speaking to the media, Oinam Bijoy, president of the Bishnupur District VDF Welfare Association, said that despite the crucial duties performed by the VDF personnel for many years, their present pay structure does not correspond with the nature and extent of their service.

He stated that repeated appeals have been made to the Government for revision of their pay, but the demands have been unaddressed.

He added that due to the government's continued failure to respond, the 10,500 VDF personnel from 16 districts were compelled to initiate the statewide armdown, pen-down strike, which he said will be followed by a mass rally on January 16 organised by the All Manipur VDF Welfare Association, if the Government fail to meet their demands by January 15.He further asserted that the demands must be fulfilled by January 15 to enable VDF personnel to resume their normal duties as before.

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