Imphal, Jan. 24: The Manipur government has beefed up security, especially in the Valley areas, in view of the general strike called by underground outfits on Republic Day.

The Manipur People’s Liberation Front (MPLF), an umbrella body of three banned outfits — the United National Liberation Front, the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and the Revolutionary People’s Front — has been boycotting all national events in Manipur for the last several years. Manipur police and Assam Rifles personnel this morning sanitised the Republic Day parade ground in the capital by using bomb detectors.

Governor Arvind Dave will take the march-past salute inside the heavily fortified Kangla Fort on January 26.

All the deputy commissioners and senior district police officials today met at chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s office to review the security arrangement. Director-general of police A.K. Parasar said adequate security measures had been taken to thwart any attempt by militant outfits to disrupt the Republic Day parade. Rehearsal for the parade was held yesterday amid tight security.

Police patrolling in and around the capital city has been intensified and mobile check-posts by the police, the Assam Rifles and the CRPF personnel have been put up at sensitive places. Police yesterday appealed to the general public not to touch any unidentified object or inform them immediately if anyone was found moving suspiciously.

Manipur bandh: The dawn-to-dusk Manipur bandh called by the All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur, today evoked mixed response with the state capital remaining unaffected.

HNLC strike: The banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council has called a 24-hour bandh in Meghalaya from 6 pm tomorrow to boycott Republic Day celebrations, reports our Shillong correspondent.