Guwahati, Aug 15: Refusing a shutdown called by separatists in India's northeast, thousands of people celebrated India's Independence Day on Sunday, Aug 15.

"We are happy indeed to see people rejecting calls by some militant groups to boycott the celebrations and coming out in large numbers to attend the national day function," acting Assam CM Bhumidhar Barman said.

"Despite attempts by militants to stage violent attacks, our security forces managed to foil their designs with the active support and cooperation of the people," Barman said.

The militant groups like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), fighting for a separate homeland comprising parts of Assam and West Bengal, the Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), the Tripura People's Democratic Front (TPDF), called a 17-hour strike on Sunday, Aug 15 to boycott the Independence Day celebrations in India's northeast.

The chief ministers of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura appealed to rebel groups to come for peace talks with the government.

OneIndia News