A general strike on August 15 has been called in the entire northeastern states by several insurgent groups as a part of their boycott of the Independence Day celebrations. In a joint statement issued by the Kamatapur Liberation Organsation (KLO), Manipur People’s Liberation Front (MPLF), Tripura People’s Democratic Front (TPDF) and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on August 10, these organisations appealed to the people of the region to support them and make the boycott and general strike a complete success1.

Reports noted that the Assam government was considering setting up of detention camps for suspected migrants to ensure that they did not slip away while the government examined their status. The proposed camps would house suspected Bangladeshis so that they cannot escape deportation once their status as illegal migrants was confirmed2.

• 1. “NE militant outfits call Independence Day boycott”, Imphal Free Press, August 10, 2008, at http://kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=42966&typeid=...
• 2. “Detention tool to check influx - Camps to hold migrants till deportation”, Telegraph, August 4, 2008, at http://telegraphindia.com/1080804/jsp/northeast/story_9642105.jsp