Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 29 2008:
PROTESTING AGAINST the alleged failure of the government of Manipur in specifying their duties and positions besides unnecessary extension of training period, the Special Police Officers (SPOs) or armed villagers of Heirok today staged a hunger strike and sat in front of the gate of the Manipur Police Training School (MPTS), Pangei in Imphal East.
The SPOs threatened to turn themselves into open rebels/insurgents unless the government fulfill their demands.
The SPO was set up for the first time in the state following the reported murder of two girls and a man by certain militant groups operating in the state at a Thabal Chongba venue at Heirok Part II Laikon in Thoubal district on March 24 last.
The formation of the SPO had also been a matter of concerned for the people of Heirok following threats from two militant outfits of the state following the acceptance of the formation of the SPO by the villagers.
Talking to the media, an SPO asserted that the state government was not clear with the specified duties and positions of the SPOs.
He also informed that the training session was extended by another three months which was also complete without any specified duties or positions given them.
He asserted that the SPOs were confused as to whether they were a part of the state forces or just SPOs.
Setting a dateline of December 30 for the state government, the SPO conveyed that the cadres will approach the union home ministry should the state government fail to meet the dateline.
The SPOs will do whatever it takes to achieve their goal, the SPO conveyed.
It may be mentioned here that the SPOs had gone on a strike since December 20 demanding the specification of their duties and demands.
There are reportedly 280 SPOs of the 300 which some of them reportedly on leave.