In an exceptional move, a number of armed personnel of the Bihar Military Police have staged a strike in the eastern Indian state over their pay, a senior Indian Home Ministry official said Wednesday.

"Jawans (officers) of the Bihar Military Police in the state's Buxar district have revolted, refusing to join their duties unless they get their stipends for duty during the Indian general elections a couple of months back, which is 300 rupees (6 U.S. dollars) per day. The personnel have in fact protested over the delay in payment of the stipends during the last two general elections," the official said, on condition of anonymity.

He said the jawans have said that they would not join duty unless their dues were cleared.

"No pay, no work, that's they are saying," he said, adding all the police personnel get 300 rupees every day during election duty, apart from their salary.

Meanwhile, senior police and administration officials from state capital Patna have rushed to the spot to pacify the jawans and urge them to withdraw themselves from the strike.

"The Home Ministry is monitoring the situation. And, the Bihar government is also doing its best to quell the revolt as soon as possible," the official said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2009)