Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 29 2008:
Protesting against the alleged failure of the State Government to come out with a definite stand on the Special Police Officers (SPOs) from Heirok even after completion of 7-month long training, the aggrieved SPOs went on a hunger strike today at Manipur Police Training Centre (MPTC) at Pangei today.
Along with closing down the gate of MPTC, the SPOs launched their hunger strike putting up placards inscribed with slogans like 'What is the position of SPOs ?', 'When will the SPO barrack e constructed ?', 'We want to save our village', What is the reality and future of SPOs ?', 'Don't misguide the SPOs', 'We oppose to being kept like prisoners', etc.
Talking to mediapersons at the site of the hunger strike, one of the SPOs informed that in case the Government of Manipur fails to come out with its definite stand on the position of SPOs by December 30, they would bring up the issue to the notice of the Government of India.
He further informed that after the announcement of the State Government that SPOs would be pressed into the service of counter-insurgency operations, they have been receiving threats from various quarters so much so that they fear to move around freely.
In order to face these threats openly, the advent of an army is possible, he added.
Meanwhile, according to a reliable source from the State Home Department, a couple of days back the Chief Minister has given instruction to the DGP for utilising the service of the SPOs in their respective capacities.