IMPHAL, Dec 3: The 14 hour general strike imposed by Co-ordination Committee of the seven valley based militant outfits from 4am till 6pm today, to boycott visit of Prime Minister and UPA-Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, has adversely affected normal life in the state.
However no strike related incident were reported during the strike period.
All business establishments in Imphal city including the main market of Imphl, Paona Bazaar and Thangal bazaar, Khwairamband bazaar, remained closed during the strike period. Passengers vehicles including the inter district passenger services stayed off the roads.
The strike also affected the normal academic atmosphere with all educational institutions both private and government remaining shut during the strike.
However the strike could not affect government offices with the employees turning up to attend their duty owing to the strong pressure from the government to slap dies-non on the employees who fail to turn up for work owing to the strike.
The high profile visit was also boycotted by the United Revolutionary Front of KCP (KCP/URF) Reconciliation Committee (a splinter group of KCP) and two civil bodies which includes All Manipur Club Organisation (AMUCO) and United Committee, Manipur.
A heavy security measure was also deployed in the greater Imphal areas in the wake of the boycott.
The groups including the two civil bodies boycotted the high profile visit alleging the government of India of indifferent to the hardship of the people and plotting divisive policies to disintegrate the state.
Despite the boycott imposed on the visit of PM and Sonia, huge numbers of people turned up to attend the public meeting organised at Kangla fort, where the PM and Sonia Gandhi addressed the gathering.