The Manipur Government has urged State Government employees not to adhere to the “illegal” call of Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) to close all government offices in Churachandpur from today until further notice.

ITLF had on 17th February issued a public notice where it discouraged government employees in “Lanka” from attending work in view of the expiry of its ultimatum to revoke the suspension of head constable Siamlaipani of Churachandpur District Police and demanded for Superintendent of Police Shivanand Surve, IPS and Deputy Commissioner Dharun Kumar S, IAS leave the district within 24 hours.

“If anyone is found attending the office, it will be their own responsibilities if any untoward incident happened to them,” the Forum had warned. Further, ITLF announced to halt the burial of the two persons who were killed on 15th February until “an amicable agreement is arrived”. The two had lost their lives when people from Kuki-Zo community stormed the SP office in protest against the suspension of the Siamlaipani.

Read more: Manipur: one killed as mob attacks SP Office in Churachandpur; ITLF holds SP responsible

The Chief Secretary of Manipur Government, in a notification issued on 18th February, termed ILTF’s public notice as illegal and ordered that “no one shall or attempt to make any deliberate effort to follow or enforce the above notice at any cost.” It also added that violators would be “booked and prosecuted under relevant provision of law of land for the time being in force.”

‘No Work, No Pay’ will be enforced by all the State Government Offices/Institutions against employees who do not attend their official duty without authorised leave, the order said, while directing all All Central and State Government Authorities and Management Authorities of institutions/ establishment/Autonomous bodies to ensure strict attendance of staff and students as usual.