Imphal, July 14: The 48 hrs general strike called by 26 voluntary organizations concluded at 12 am of July 15, without any major incidents, though Imphal and a number of districts continued to be hit hard by the bandh for the second consecutive day.

The 48 hrs general strike was called to protest the killing of Th Manorama by Assam Rifles after arrest under contradictory claims.

Like the first day of the bandh, all commercial activities at Imphal and other districts such as Thoubal.

Bishnupur and Jiribam sub division came to a grinding halt.

At Imphal, women folk came out in full strength in some parts of the city to enforce the bandh and sit-in-protests were staged at different points of the capital city.

All major commercial centres remained shut for the second day today and the Khwairamband bazar wore a deserted look with all shops downing shutters.

Inter district buses cancelled service for the day.

Inter State buses also did not ply.

All petrol pumps also remained closed for the day.

At many points of Imphal, women could be seen armed with lathis to pull up anyone found violating the general strike and the odd private vehicles that plied on the road, had messages written on its windscreen that they are on emergency service or in connection with some religious functions.

Police and para-military were out in full force and they were deployed at the sensitive zones of Imphal to thwart any unwanted incident.

At Bamon Kampu, the locality of the late Manorama, bandh supporters came out in full strength and burnt the effigies of the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Chief Minister, Commander of 9 Sector, Assam Rifles and the Havildar of the 17 Assam Rifles who issued the arrest memo while picking up the deceased woman.

Before the effigies were consigned to flames a brief confrontation took place between the bandh supporters and the police, when the latter tried to dissuade them from burning the effigies: However after some time, the police gave in and the women folk set the effigies on fire.

Reports of effigy burning of the Prime Minister have also come in from other places.

At Loklaobung the effigy of the PM was set ablaze.

Blockades were put at different points of NH-39.At CCpur the bandh evoked mixed reaction, reports our correspondent.

While all the major commercial centres remained closed for the day, private vehicles plied on the roads.

Some educational establishments also remained opened today.

Meanwhile, five general strike supporters owing allegiance to different organizations were picked up by security personnel from Palace Compound area today evening.

The arrested persons have been identified as Hericoun secretary (orgn) Th Dilip, president of Women Association for Civic Action Kangleipak NIbetombi Devi and its secretary S Bidyarani Devi, Mekhol president AK Janaki Devi and secretary L Memma Devi.

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