Full rehearsal for I-Day held in Manipur

Imphal, Aug 12: A full rehearsal, along with large number of security personnel, was held here today in view of the Independence Day celebrations, to thwart the designs of militants who had called for boycott of the observations.

The state-level function for the Independence Day will be held at the First Manipur Rifles parade ground at 0930 hours with Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh as the Chief Guest.

In the full dress rehearsal, about 35 parade contingents took part, led by CO, Second Indian Reserve Battalion, K Radheshyam as parade commander.

Officials said medals and prizes will be distributed by the Chief Minister during the observations.

Police said tight security arrangements had been taken up as four militant groups of the North Eastern region had called for boycott of the observations on August 15.

In a statement, the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), Tripura People's Democratic Front (TPDF) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) called a general strike on August 15 from 0100 hours to 1800 hours throughout the region.

''Since the past ten years the organisations have been calling for boycott of the celebrations in the region as a symbolic expression of opposition to the occupation of the region,'' the statement said.

''Attempts have been made through military tactics to coerce the groups to hold talks but the peace talks have not yielded any result,'' the statement added.

''Peace talks will never address the political demands of the people for sovereignty,'' the statement added.

UNI