Imphal, August 16, 2010: The 64th Independence Day was celebrated despite a 16-hour general strike called by various underground groups that paralysed normal life.

No untoward incidents were reported during the strike hours.

Owing to the general strike nearly all the streets in Imphal and in the district headquarters of the state wore a deserted look.

Shops and business establishments also remained closed during the strike hours.

The general strike was imposed by almost all the underground outfits including the Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), the umbrella body of PLA, UNLF and PREPAK.

It commenced from 1 am of August 15 lasting till 5.30 pm.

Amid the boycott and general strike of the rebels, ceremonies to mark the 64th Independence Day were held in all district headquarters and sub-divisional headquarters.

The state level ceremony was held at the 1st MR grounds in which Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh graced as chief guest of the function.

The state level celebration function was held under tight security.

A number of plain clothes police personnel, mostly women personnel were deployed at the visitors gallery on the supposition that women militants were likely to attack VIPs and VVIPs from close quarters.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister reiterated the appeal to the UNC and other agitating groups imposing an economic blockade on the national highways to come to the negotiating table and to bring an end to the impasse.

Frequent imposition of economic blockade and bandhs have hindered the development growth in the state.

Despite the best efforts of the government, bandhs and blockades have decelerated the state's growth beside making the common people to suffer.

The CM asked for a stop to calling bandhs and blockades.

Such types of agitations hurting the interests of innocents is against the law and the Supreme Court has also banned such agitations, the Chief Minister observed while appealing to the UNC and ANSAM to come to the negotiating table.

Every matter or issue can be settled through talks, he said.

In his lengthy speech, O Ibobi also condemned the "quit notice" issued by the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) to the non-locals and said that this act of the underground will hurt the interests of Manipuris based outside the state.

Underground groups should not indulge in such acts that give a wrong impression of the people of the state.

However, he assured that the government will not leave any stone unturned to protect life and security of non-locals residing in the state.

Talking on the developmental front, the chief guest said he had drawn the attention of the Central government to the problems faced by the state and that he had proposed the development of the three national highways (NH-39, NH-53 and NH-150) passing through the state.

The Centre has assured developing these three highways, he added.

On the occasion of the 64th Independence Day, the chief minister also gave away police medals for gallantry to 20 police personnel.

The celebrations were also held in the districts headquarters of the state.

The DCs of the respective districts led the celebrations as chief guests of the function.

They also took salute of march past contingents of security and paramilitary personnel deployed in each district, according to the DIPR.

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