Manipur Rifles personnel stop work

By Our Correspondent

IMPHAL, DEC. 9. The Manipur Rifles personnel launched a ``ceasework'' on Friday demanding disbursement of allowances for which money had been drawn between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1998.

The agitating personnel locked the main gates and even top officials were not allowed to enter. The Minister of State for Home, Mr. A. Biren, who was deputed by the Chief Minister, Mr. Nipamacha, to talk to the personnel and hammer out an agreement was held hostage for two hours from 4 p.m.

The Minister was told that he would be released only after their demands were met. He was finally allowed to go after he promised that an inquiry into the scam would be completed before December 9 and all guilty personnel and clerical staff arrested.

The personnel allege that crores of rupees drawn for payment of special comprehensive allowance and house rent allowance had been misappropriated by top police officials in collusion with the clerical staff. Each personnel of the 11 battalions was to get more that Rs. 10,000.

Guards of the Rajya Sabha MP, Mr. W. Angou, the Minister of State for School Education, Mrs. W. Leima, the Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr. M. Hemanta, and the IGP (law and order), Mr. A. Romenkumar, refrained from work. The ceasework has affected counter-insurgency operations and general maintenance of law and order in the State.

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Section  : National
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