Strike on India’s I-Day: Security tightened across Manipur

Security was enhanced today across the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, which is experiencing ethnic strife, after some banned insurgent groups called a strike on Independence Day on August 15, state police officials said.

A number of outlawed outfits such as the Coordinating Committee (Corcom) have issued a call for a general strike on Independence Day from 1:00am to 6.30pm.

Corcom includes banned groups including United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and the People's Liberation Army. Two more proscribed outfits in Manipur have also separately called a shutdown on August 15.

Meanwhile, preparations for the Independence Day celebrations are in full swing across Manipur with BSF, police and Assam Rifles personnel and students joining rehearsals for the march past to be held on August 15.

"Security measures have been significantly heightened after several militant outfits called a strike on Independence Day," said a police official preferring not to be named.

"Search operations were conducted on the outskirts and vulnerable areas of Imphal-West, Imphal-East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts by the state police and federal security forces and recovered 12 arms, six ammunitions and eight explosives," the Manipur Police said on Twitter.

More than 160 people lost their lives and several hundred were injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3 between majority Metei and minority Kuki community members after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.