Imphal: A 24-hour 'general strike' from midnight of September 27 has been called by the United Committee Manipur (UCM), an apex body of social organisations, against the 'failure' of the authorities to provide security along the National Highway 39 and 63, the lifelines of the state.

The decision for the strike was taken by the executive committee of the UCM, which discussed the frequent looting, extortion, crimes and particularly the molestation of women bus passengers by armed militants on September five along the Imphal- Dimapur NH 39 and Imphal-Jiribam NH 53, UCM secretary general in-charge, Oinam Ratan told reporters.

The strike was part of a 'civil disobedience movement' to arouse public opinion against the insecurity of travelling on the vital highways, where armed militants were looting passengers or extorting them besides damaging vehicles in the name of 'road and goods tax' for the past several years, Ratan said.

The militants had also begun molesting women passengers of late, he said, and asked how long such incidents could be tolerated.

He also appealed to government offices, banks and other public institutions to remain closed during the strike, to press for security on the highways.

The issue of safety on the highways was discussed during the day by a delegation led by Chief Minister Ibobi Singh in New Delhi with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, who said that law and order was a state subject.

He, however, said that he would apprise Prime Minister A B Vajpayee about the issue, UCM secretary general K H Ratan said.

PTI