Source: Agencies - 12:15 IST
Imphal, August 09:
Most of the offices in Manipur wore a deserted look in response to a call given by 32 organisations for closure of all offices from today even as the state government announced that appropriate action would be taken against employees who failed to report for work.
Official reports said most of the employees failed to turn up for work in the early hours.
Roads were blocked in some parts of Imphal and Greater Imphal areas by agitationists to prevent office goers from reaching their offices.
Several local clubs, organisations and groups have extended support to the agitationists in closing the offices, the reports said.
Markets, shops and business establishments at Khwairamban area, the biggest marketing centre in Manipur, also remained closed to express solidarity with the agitationists who had announced earlier that they would intensify their stir till withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state, the reports said.
A working committee of 32 organisations spearheading the present agitation to press for removal of the act from the state had called for closure of all central and state government offices from today as a part of their ongoing stir.