Kuki groups to close government offices in Manipur district, govt to enforce 'no work, no pay' norms

Guwahati: Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a forum of Kuki organisations in conflict-hit Manipur, on Sunday said all government offices in Churachandpur district would be forcefully closed from Monday as its deadline to withdraw suspension of a police constable ended without any action.

The state home department, however, asked all employees not to follow or enforce the diktat of the Kuki organisations and said "no work, no pay" norms would also be enforced against those not attending their duties. 

In a joint statement on Sunday, ITLF Chairman Pagin Haokip and Secretary Human Tombing asked all state government employees from Churachandpur district to abstain from going to office. "If someone is seen at the office, they will be held accountable, if something unfortunate were to happen to them."

The ITLF on Friday served a 24-hour deadline to Deputy Commissioner S Dharun Kumar and SP Sivanand Surve to leave Churachandpur, holding them responsible for the mob violence and subsequent killing of two Kukis on Thursday evening during a protest against suspension of the constable. The mob stormed into the office of the DC and SP and set fire on them as the order to suspend the constable was not withdrawn.

The head constable, Siamlalpaul, a Kuki, was suspended by the district administration after he was allegedly found posing in photographs with armed Kuki men. But the ITLF claimed that the constable posed with "village volunteers," who defended the Kukis from constant attacks by the Meiteis and the state police force.

It also alleged that the state government did not take action against Meitei police personnel, who were often seen posing photographs with the armed Meitei groups like Arambai Tenggol.

"As previously announced, all state government offices located in the Lamka district will be closed on Monday," said the ITLF statement. The Kuki groups renamed Churachandpur as Lamka as the violence with Meiteis escalated.

The ITLF, however, said financial, medical and educational institutions would remain exempted from the shutdown.

Reacting to the "ultimatum," Manipur CM N Biren Singh on Saturday said the threats to law enforcement agencies and the government officials would be dealt sternly and the state government would not remain a "silent spectator."

Meitei organisation COCOMI said the violence carried out by the Kukis had a "hidden agenda" as they wanted to destroy the documents like voters' list to protect the "illegal Kuki migrants" from Myanmar, who were settled in Manipur.

Anti-establishment feelings:

The Manipur government on Sunday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incidents saying the buildings of the DC and SP were set ablaze with a view to incite anti-establishment feelings. "The Indian tricolor, the sacred symbol of the Republic of India, was un-hoisted unceremoniously from the DC office building and dishonoured during the incident of the rampant acts of sabotage, arson vandalism," said the order issued by Ranjan Yumnam, a joint secretary in the state home department. It said DC Dharun Kumar would conduct an inquiry into the arson and the circumstances leading to the loss of lives and property.

In another order, Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi asked the government officials not to follow or enforce the diktat of ITLF. It also warned about legal action. It further said that "no work, no pay" norms would also be enforced against those not attending their duties.