The Hindu : National : General strike disrupts life in Manipur

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Sunday, Oct 16, 2005

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General strike disrupts life in Manipur

Only skeleton staff at most government offices in the State

HIGH ALERT: A CRPF jawan stands guard at Imphal Bazar wearing a deserted look due to the general strike called in Manipur on Saturday. — PHOTO: PTI

IMPHAL: Life was paralysed here on Saturday by general strike called by the Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF).

MPLF, the umbrella organisation of Manipur-based militant groups, the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), called a general strike from 1.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on Saturday to protest the annexation of Manipur on October 15, 1949.

Switch off lights

The MPLF has asked the people to switch off lights at 7 p.m. on Saturday and burn copies of the Manipur Merger Agreement.

In spite of ``the threat'' that punitive action would be taken against government employees who would not turn up on Saturday, most employees could not attend office due to the non-availability of transport.

A skeleton staff was to be seen at most government offices.

Vehicles were off the road with inter-State bus services cancelled.

Educational institutions in the State were also closed along with all business establishments.

All oil depots have also been closed down.

So far no untoward incident has been reported, police said. Strong police deployment was to be found at key locations in the State.

The MPLF has been observing the day as black day or eclipse day.

It has banned movement of all except for religious and emergency purposes.

Normal life was also affected in most of the districts of the State. — UNI

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