Imphal, July 05: Stung by the mass resignation of Engineers, the State government today devised a security cover mechanism for all the Engineers serving in the four engineering departments.

A home Department statement circulated by the principal Secretary AE Ahmad said that the prevailing situation would be reviewed and added that surprise checks at the residence of all the Engineers at regular intervals on daily basis would be conducted in addition to security cover being provided at the office complex of engineering departments.

The development arise after a 12 member delegation of Engineers called on Chief minister O Ibobi Singh and highlighted their plights especially the everyday uncertainties faced by them regarding security to their lives.

At the meeting the CM assured every initiative to provide full security and protection to all the Engineers, said the statement while informing that O Ibobi appealed to the Engineers to call off their agitation in view of the difficulties besetting the State Government due to the economic blockade.

According to press sources, the engineers comprising of Chief Engineers and Additional CEs of PWD, PHED, IFCD and Power department prevailed upon the CM to arrest culprits responsible for causing injury to Thoubal Division EE RK Mobisana on July 1 evening.

They also submitted a list of events of six Engineers including three CEs falling prey to unlawful elements and many other engineers experiencing trauma of bomb explosion and shooting at their residences and alarming rise of abduction cases in the past.

Such pressing factors coupled with the latest incident of shooting Mobisana�s leg had constrained the Engineers to resign enmasse as they were unwilling to execute their duties under disturbing atmosphere and preferred distancing themselves from coming under the wrath of disruptive elements, added the source.

As per the PWD Chief Engineer Ng Rastrapati�s version the Chief Minister is reported to have advised the Chief Secretary to formulate a security mechanism for the engineers and urging the engineers to withdraw resignations.

Rastrapati further stated that government assurances would be looked into and in case of absence of concrete action there is no alternative but to continue the agitation.

In solidarity with the striking PWD engineers, employees of PHED and IFCD today joined the sit-in-protest being staged at the Khoyathong office premise of PWD whereas Power department employees organised a separate dharna at Keishampat for the same cause.

Informed source also speculated that engineers of PHED and IFCD might tender resignation letters.

In the meantime, an emergency meeting of All Manipur PWD Building Project Divisions Employees and Workers Association held today unanimously resolved to extend moral and physical support to the ongoing sit-in-protest of PWD Engineers denouncing the injury caused to EE, Thoubal Division by unidentified gunmen.

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