The Manipur Village Defence Force (VDF) on Sunday suspended their ‘Gun down-pen down’ relay hunger strike as state police stopped them from carrying on the strike at Kwakeithel Bazar, Imphal West amid the curfew imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Following it, personnel of the All Manipur VDF Association condemned the police for preventing the hunger strike which was organised to demand an increase in remuneration and service regularisation of VDF personnel.
“The relay hunger strike is suspended considering the present situation of COVID-19 pandemic but we will continue our 'Gun down and Pen down' strike until our demands are fulfilled,” said general secretary Sh Sanjit of the association.
The VDF personnel have been continuing their cease work strike since July 16.
The VDF welfare association decided to take up the hunger strike as the state government turned deaf ears on their issues, Sanjit said. He said the relay hunger strike was launched as the state government failed to respond to the cease work strike.
The VDF welfare association has been demanding the government to provide grant of arms allowances, grant of 13 months’ pay and regularisation of their services.
A memorandum has also been submitted by pressing those demands to Chief Minister N Biren on July 7 and a deadline was served to respond by July 15.
The VDF association stated that the VDF personnel have been engaged as a force multiplier and assistance to the local police since the last 12 years under the Manipur police department.
