Thousands of government employees did not report to duty in Manipur on Monday in response to a call for closure of offices by a group of organisations demanding abolition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the state.

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Official sources said that except for some district level officers, a large majority of employees did not report to duty despite the state government's warnings to initiate action against those who did not attend office.

Several Central and state government offices at Moirang, Nambol, Bishenpur, Thoubal and at several other places in four valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishenpur remained closed.

Markets, shops and business establishments also remained closed in most parts of the state.

Meanwhile, some prominent personalities of Manipur, including Padmashree awardees, staged a sit-in protest to press for the immediate suspension of the Act.

Among the protestors were Padamshree awardees M K Binodini and Nabakishore Singh, filmmaker A  Shyam Sharma and writers I S Khaidem, Laishram Samarendra, R K Bhuban Hijam Guno, Nilbir Sastri and N Shree Biren.