Normal life today came to a standstill in the state due to an 18-hour general strike called by six major insurgent organisations from midnight last night, officials said.Markets, banks, business establishments and educational institutions were closed and transport services were suspended.Paramilitary personnel and police were deployed in full strength.Attendance in government offices was almost nil due to cancellation of public transport services.Coordination committee (CORCOM) of six major insurgent organisations–United National Liberation Front, Revolutionary People’s Front, Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup, People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), Kangleipak Communist Party and PREPAK-Progressive–had called the general strike in protest against the merger of Manipur with the country in 1949.Manipur had merged with the country on October 15, 1949.