A 12-hour general strike has been called in the northeastern states on Thursday by North East Students' Organisation (NESO) to protest influx of migrant labourers and others into the region from other states.

"The Manipur government should take effective steps against entry of illegal migrant labourers and restrict the entry of people from other states as the population of Manipuris is microscopic," a spokesman of the All Manipur Students Union (AMSU), a constituent of NESO, said.

Appealing to the people to support the general strike in the state, he said a mass rally to draw attention of the people in the region would be organised at Guwahati during the general strike.

The spokesman said representatives of AMSU and from other organisations would participate in the rally.

He said the AMSU has submitted a memorandum to the Manipur government to send an official representative to participate in the rally at Guwahati.

Police posts in Manipur were alerted ahead of Thursday's strike, official sources said.