Indian separatists call for strike

Fourteen separatist rebel groups in the northeastern region of India have called for a general strike to enforce a boycott of Republic Day celebrations on January twenty-six.

In a joint statement, the groups said they were determined to disrupt the celebrations at all costs.

They said essential services such as hospitals and printing presses would be exempted from the day-long strike.

The BBC correspondent in the region says rebels boycott celebrations every year, but this is the first time that all the states in the region are participating in the strike. Our correspondent says one rebel group in West Bengal has also supported the strike call.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service