Shillong, Aug. 10: The army staged a flag march and the government extended indefinite curfew to the whole of Shillong on the eve of a public rally organised by the women?s organisations leading the campaign for the release of two arrrested Khasi Students? Union (KSU) leaders.

Undeterred by the administration?s move, activist Irene Hujon said the rally would be held under any circumstance. ?We are going ahead with the rally. We have mobilised the support of all women?s organisations in and outside Shillong.?

She demanded chief minister D.D. Lapang?s resignation for failing to end the impasse over the reconstitution of the Meghalaya Board of School Education, for which the KSU has been campaigning since last month.

East Khasi hills deputy commissioner D.P. Wahlang had clamped indefinite curfew in all localities under the jurisdiction of the Lumdeingjri and Mawlai police stations on Monday in apprehension of a complete law and order breakdown. Sporadic incidents of arson were cited as the reason for the administration?s move.

With the Seng Longkmie (mothers? union) and the Seng Kynthei, a conglomerate of women?s organisations, showing no sign of easing their agitation, the government today called in the army and brought the entire capital city under curfew.

Army units immediately joined the CRPF personnel deployed earlier ? five platoons of women personnel and 10 companies of men ? in patrolling trouble-prone areas.

Shillong has been tense since the beginning of an indefinite ?night public curfew? enforced by 21 NGOs that are participating in the campaign for an overhaul of the school education board.

The Seng Longkmie and the Seng Kynthei had separately announced a two-day ?public curfew? from yesterday to protest the use of teargas and water cannons on women activists when they had gone to meet the chief minister to plead for the release of the arrested KSU leaders.

Both KSU leaders were charged with arson and booked under the Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act.

Justifying the imposition of indefinite curfew throughout Shillong, Wahlang said: ?We have definite information that vandals will try to discredit the district administration and the government. The situation in Shillong is explosive and we do not want to take chances. We must ensure that law and order is maintained.?

The deputy commissioner said barricades had been put up in several areas and buses requisitioned to take away arrested women activists if they venture out of their homes. Members of all women?s organisations are planning to converge on Malki ground.

The district administration has asked the police to arrest anybody who violates the curfew. Security has been beefed up along the national highway, too.

The issue of revamping, restructuring and strengthening the school education board has kept both the Khasi and Jaintia hills on the boil. The government?s decision to clamp indefinite curfew in Shillong has added to the tension.