IMPHAL, Aug 6: Indian police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at anti-government protesters, wounding dozens, as protests spread on Friday across the northeastern state of Manipur against a federal anti-terror law.

Several school children were hurt when police used batons to break up one demonstration, while the state administration was paralysed. Government employees went on mass leave to support the movement against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act that gives full powers to soldiers to arrest and kill suspected rebels.

Police said they fired rubber bullets at around 200 slogan-shouting demonstrators at Nambol town, near the state capital Imphal, when protesters violated a curfew and marched in a procession to demand the immediate withdrawal of the law.

"Firing is still going on and many people are injured in the clash," a police officer said in Imphal. In the other incident, at least a dozen schoolchildren were hurt when police used batons to disperse a group of about 300 students marching in a suburb of Imphal.

"Everywhere there are demonstrations going on. The whole of Manipur is in turmoil," said Sanjo, a local journalist. Streets in the state capital were deserted, shops and businesses were shut and hotels were virtually empty.

"Government employees have brought the entire administration to a grinding halt," said Montu Ahanthem, a youth leader, referring to state workers taking leave en masse. Manipuris have set a deadline of August 15 for the federal government to withdraw the law, or face more intensive protests.

The demonstrations began last month after soldiers shot dead a 30-year-old woman suspected of being a rebel during a raid on her home in Imphal. The special powers act is in force in India's seven northeastern states, which are plagued by revolts by dozens of guerilla groups, some demanding greater autonomy and others separate homelands.

More than 10,000 people have died in three decades of separatist violence in Manipur alone. New Delhi says the anti-terror law is necessary to quell insurgencies in the region.

Several Manipur state lawmakers have threatened to resign and force New Delhi to dissolve the assembly if the law is not withdrawn. "The situation is going to worsen because the administration seems to be clueless on how to handle the crisis," Chandramani Singh, a senior lawmaker, said. "The more the government tries to suppress the public anger there will be more violence leading to bloodshed." -Reuters