Imphal: Life in Manipur was affected on Wednesday after a 12-hour bandh called by state BJP unit started at 0600 hrs.
The bandh was called to protest the arrest of two BJP MLAs and the controversy over recruitment of police constables.
Strike supporters put up barricades and burnt tyres on the roads to stop movement of people.
Police and strike supporters clashed at various places.
All educational institutes and business establishments were closed.
The Manipur government’s decision to cancel all tests conducted earlier to appoint police constables and hold retests has evoked strong protests across the state.
The candidates imposed indefinite economic blockade on the national highways and decided to hold strikes at all places where fresh tests were conducted.
Kh Joykishan and Th Biswajit Singh, both BJP MLAs, had protested yesterday and were arrested by police. Both have been remanded to judicial custody for 14 days by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal East.
After the general strike ends today, BJP would hold series of strikes till September 5.
The Kangliepak Communist Party (KCP Poirei Meitei) has called for a 12-hour general strike on September 1 from 0600 hrs to 1800 hrs to oppose alleged mismanagement and corruption in Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS).
The Co-ordinating Body of Trade Unions will support the 12-hour country-wide general strike to be staged on September 2.
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Surrendered Welfare Association (AMSWA) has called a state-wide general strike from 0500 hrs of September 2 till 1800 hrs of September 5 to oppose failure of the government to fulfill the assurances given to the militants. (UNI)
