By Subir Bhaumik BBC correspondent, Calcutta

Manipur has been on the boil since July

The strike will coincide with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the state, his first since the beginning of a protest in Manipur.

Manipur has been on the boil since the killing and alleged rape of a Manipuri woman held by Indian soldiers in July.

Since then, pressure has mounted on the government to withdraw a controversial security law used to fight insurgents.

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act gives the military sweeping powers to arrest, detain and shoot suspects.

The outlawed People's Liberation Army (PLA) said in a statement that the people of Manipur should observe a strike on Saturday since they could expect nothing from Mr Singh's visit.

Another rebel group, United National Liberation Front (UNLF), has also supported the strike call.

The PLA's political wing, the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), said in a statement that while Mr Singh had announced a partial pullout of Indian troops from the disputed region of Kashmir, it was sending more soldiers to Manipur.

Humane law

The Indian army began a massive offensive against the Manipur rebel bases on the India-Burma border late last month.

The UNLF said in a statement that Indian security forces were "torturing and harassing" villagers during the offensive.

In another development, Apunba Lup, a collection of 32 student and human rights groups from Manipur, has said it will resume its protests if Mr Singh does not announce the withdrawal of the controversial law.

Mr Singh has said he will review the law.

A spokesman for the prime minister has said he will consider how a more humane law could be put in place that addressed India's security concerns while respecting people's rights.

Manipur has been hit by protests since the bullet-riddled body of Manorama Devi was discovered in July, a day after she was arrested by the paramilitary Assam Rifles.