The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), a Kuki-Zo organisation, has asked the Manipur government employees in the Churachandpur district to refrain from attending work from Monday.

The decision was announced hours after Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh said on Saturday that "threats" to government employees will "not" be taken lightly.

In a public notice issued on Saturday night, the ITLF said the 24 hours have "passed" since it gave an ultimatum to cancel the suspension order of the head constable Siamlalpaul and the replacement of Churachandpur superintendent of police Shivanand Surve and deputy commissioner S. Dharun Kumar.

Two persons were killed and over 30 injured in the mob trouble on Thursday night in protest against the suspension of the police constable earlier in the day. The ultimatum was given on Friday following the mob trouble in which the DC and SP offices were also attacked.

"So far, no cancellation and replacement has been done.As stated, all the state government offices in the Lamka district will be closed from Monday ... until further notice. All state government employees from the Lamka district should refrain from going to the office. If anyone is found attending the office, it will be their own responsibility if any untoward incident happens to them," the ITLF public notice said.

There will be no burial of the two martyrs until an amicable agreement is arrived, the ITLF notice also said on Saturday

The ITLF — an influential conglomerate of recognised Kuki-Zo tribes in Churachandpur formed in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Manipur that erupted in May between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities — after an emergency meeting on Friday, had set the 24-hour deadline for the district DC and SP to leave the district holding them “entirely responsible” for the mob trouble in Churachandpur town on Thursday night in protest against the “unjust” suspension of a Kuki-Zo police constable.

If the suspension of the head constable is not cancelled within 24 hours and, if the SP and DC do not leave the district within 24 hours, all government offices shall be closed, the ITLF said, adding both the SP and DC will bear the responsibility for any untoward incidents that may fall on them.

The state government has also hardened its stand on the public notice by ITLF. An official said the situation in Churachandpur "is normal today but can't say about tomorrow".

Reacting to the ITLF public notice and "general threat", the state government said in an order issued by the chief secretary on Sunday evening that the government "views the matter very seriously with utmost sensitivity as the same act is illegal and the notice so issued is without any authority...."

The state government also said that "No work, No pay" shall also be "enforced" by all the state government offices/institutions against those employees who do "not" attend their official duty without authorised leave.