Manipur civil supplies staff go on strike

They are protesting against the shooting of two officers of the Food and Civil Supplies Department by a group of unidentified gunmen last month.

Protesting against the shooting of two officers of the Food and Civil Supplies (FCS) department by a group of unidentified gunmen in Imphal East and Imphal West districts last month, the employees of the FCS have launched a "cease work" throughout the state.

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The employees have also decided to stage sit-in demonstrations on a daily basis as a mark of protest against the violence.

The decision to go on strike was taken at an emergency general body meeting of the FCS Directorate Employees' Union in Imphal on Monday.

Police sources said the militants belonging to the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) could be behind the shooting. Gunmen shot Imphal West District Supply Officer SS Kumar on December 31, while his Imphal East district counterpart, RK Binoy, was similarly shot in the evening on the same day after being whisked away from his home.

The employees of the FCS have asked the militants to clarify the reasons behind their action.

The employees' union has also demanded that adequate security be provided to FCS offices and its residential quarters.