Imphal: Security and police were today (Nov 19, 2004) put on maximum alert as separatist Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) called a '24-Hour Curfew' from midnight tonight (Nov 19, 2004) to protest against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Manipur tomorrow (Nov 20, 2004).

Official sources said Para-military forces and Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel were deployed at places where the Prime Minister would be visiting.

They said the Prime Minister would attend a special convocation of Manipur University, lay the foundation stone for construction of a Capital complex at Chingmeirong, near Imphal, and attend a public function during which the centre would hand over historic Kangla Fort in the heart of the city to the Manipur Government.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the RPF, political wing of the banned People's Liberation Army (PLA), said that it had imposed a '24-Hour curfew' from midnight tonight (Nov 19, 2004) to protest against Singh's visit and against the merger of Manipur with the union in October 1949.

It said that the Prime Minister's visit was only to oversee the Army deployment in Manipur.

On the other hand, Apunba Lup (32 member underground social organisation), agitating for lifting the Armed Force Special Powers Act from Manipur, demanded that the Act be withdrawn latest by today (Nov 19, 2004).

In a statement, the Lup said that if the Act was not lifted by today, then it would intensify its agitation and its representatives may not hold talks with the Prime Minister during his two-day visit to Manipur beginning tomorrow (Nov 20, 2004).