The militant groups that called for a boycott of the Independence Day celebrations include ULFA, 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), an umbrella group of several Manipuri rebel groups, and the Tripura People's Democratic Front (TPDF).

These groups are active in Assam, Manipur and Tripura.

As part of the boycott call Aug 15, the militant groups have called for a general strike from 1 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. that day.

Militant groups in the northeast have for years boycotted national events to protest New Delhi's rule over the region.

'We have deployed security forces in strength across the state,' another senior police official said.