'The Manipur government has curtailed the democratic rights of the indigenous people by not holding the elections to the constitutional bodies,' said an IDF spokesman.

He told reporters: 'If the state government does not respond to our demand, we shall launch a bigger movement.'

Various Naga organisations led by United Naga Council (UNC) have called the 48-hour total shutdown from July 20 to protest against the state government's decision to deploy paramilitary forces and police commandos in the hill districts.

According to a release of the UNC: 'The Congress government in Manipur has failed to respect the sentiments of the tribal people in the hill districts and mobilised security forces to harass the innocent men and women.'

The ministers and top officials were tight lipped about these series of agitations and shutdowns.