More than 70,000 policemen of the State worked empty stomach on Wednesday as a mark of protest against the Government’s alleged apathy towards their long-pending demands for better pay, health facilities and privileges for family of martyrs.
The protestors included constables, head constables, sub inspectors and inspectors from across the 24 districts and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Jharkhand Police.
The protesting policemen have demanded immediate implementation of Chief Minister’s assurance for 13 month pay to the cops annually. Das had in 2017 promised a 13-month pay to the policemen of the State every year in recognition of their sacrifices. However, many cops claim that they are yet to get the additional pay as promised.
Besides, the cops have demanded implementation of the seventh pay commission and flexibility on the eligibility for recruitments on compassionate grounds.
“Even the CM’s security personnel have not had a single morsel of meal since morning. The Government should understand our problems and address them at the earliest,” said Yogendra Singh, president, Jharkhand Police Association
Jharkhand Police Men’s Association, Jharkhand Police Chaturthwargiya Karmchari Sangh and Jharkhand Police Association jointly called for the hunger strike on Wednesday. The three associations have also threatened that all the 70,000 odd policemen in Jharkhand will go on a five-day leave from February 28 if their demands are not met by then.
“We all will go on a five-day mass leave on February 28 if the Government fails to give us any assurance by then,” said Singh. In case the cops go on mass leave, the law and order situation in Jharkhand may face a major jolt. The protestors also include traffic constables, so the traffic in cities may also go haywire if cops refuse to undertake their responsibilities.
Thousands of policemen also staged protests in different districts of the State on Wednesday and raised slogans for their rights. In Ranchi, they sat on hunger strike outside the Police Headquarters in Dhurwa and put up a banner highlighting their demands.
Besides pay revisions, the cops have sought health facilities for low grade staff at par with what the senior officials of the police department get. In case a policeman is martyred or dies on duty, his parents must get 25% of the ex gratia, they demanded. Changes in pension plan also found a mention in their list of demands.