New Delhi, Aug 15 (IANS) Despite boycott calls from Maoists and separatist groups or terror threats, Independence Day celebrations across India went off peacefully Tuesday including in volatile areas like Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast.

It was security like never before in many states like Jammu and Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh, where the governments had been tipped off about terror strikes including possible car bombs.

So was the case in the Indian capital where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed the nation from atop the Red Fort monument, the entire venue ringed by thousands of police and security personnel.

In his 50-minute speech, the prime minister touched on a range of issues from economy to foreign policy but stressed the threats from Maoism and separatists and the need for Pakistan to curb terrorists directed against India.

'All countries in our region must recognise that terrorism anywhere is a threat to peace and prosperity everywhere. It must be confronted with our united efforts. There is a large constituency for peace and shared prosperity among our people and we must work together to build on that,' he said, in his third Aug 15 speech as prime minister.

In the restive northeast, people defied a 17-hour general strike called by separatist guerrillas in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura by joining the celebrations.

'It is heartening to find people coming to attend Independence Day functions across the region despite calls by some militants to boycott them,' Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS.

Officials added that there was open defiance to the rebel boycott with people coming in large numbers to attend the celebrations.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the situation was slightly different. While the winter capital Jammu witnessed colourful celebrations with thousands thronging the main stadium, the summer capital Srinagar witnessed a complete shutdown as people responded to the strike call given by the separatist Hurriyat.

Security was at its toughest in the state with reports that car bombs would be set off close to the sites of the official functions. Fortunately, functions at trouble areas like Poonch, Doda and Rajouri districts also went off peacefully.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, unfurling the tricolour at the main function in Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium, laid stress on the peace and prosperity of the state.

He assured the people that the killing of innocent civilians in the fight against terrorism would be put to an end. 'I must tell you that security forces have not been given a licence to kill. Each and every complaint against them is taken into account and action is taken against the guilty. There is full accountability,' he said.

If Azad focussed on terrorism, his counterpart in Chhattisgarh Raman Singh stressed on the need to root out Maoist insurgency.

He said joint efforts by the central and state governments as well as the people of Bastar would 'wipe out' Maoists.

While Raman Singh led the celebrations in Raipur, Home Minister Ramvichar Netam made a point by hoisting the tricolour at Jagdalpur, the district headquarters of the Maoist stronghold of Bastar.

There was perceptible tension in Andhra Pradesh too, where intelligence alerts had come in Monday night about terrorists launching suicide strikes.

Security was tightened at vital installations, residences and offices of VIPs, IT campuses, shopping malls and commercial complexes following the alert by the Intelligence Bureau.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, like many of his other counterparts, took the opportunity to highlight the achievements of his government.

'The state has become a role model for other states,' he said.

In West Bengal, the administration stepped up security after two Laskhar-e-Taiba terrorists were arrested Monday from North 24 Parganas district after sneaking in from Bangladesh with a consignment of explosives.

For many heads of state governments, it was an occasion for announcements and accolades.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda said promotion of rural industries topped the agenda of his government and added that his government was doing everything to promote rural industries of the state.

Reports reaching from different parts of Jharkhand and neighbouring Bihar, where Maoists had given a boycott call, indicated that the day was uneventful.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said establishing the rule of law in the state was his government's top priority.

In Karnataka, his counterpart H.D. Kumaraswamy announced about 50,000 houses for BPL (below poverty line) families and 30,000 families dwelling in slums.

'The housing project will be a gift to the poor, including marginal farmers during the golden jubilee celebrations of the state's formation, beginning Nov 1.'

The mood was similar in Rajasthan, where the day was observed in Udaipur for the first time, with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje saying that sound financial management had been a landmark achievement of the state government.

She also called upon the people to participate actively in the development process to enable Rajasthan to achieve front-ranking position among the states.

And in the Orissa capital Bhubaneswar, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik detailed the package to improve the conditions of farmers, as well as other poor, downtrodden and weaker sections.

'My government has announced a package for farmers,' he said, adding that farmers would be given land pass books soon. Besides, the government would set up seed centres in each panchayats.

'The government is committed to providing a corruption-free and result-oriented administration,' said Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

In the national capital Delhi, Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit continued the self-congratulatory tenor and said she had strived to make it a world class city.

Unfurling the national flag at the Chhatrasal Stadium in north Delhi, she focussed on water and electricity woes of Delhiites and said the government had decided to set up a 2,000 MW coal based power project in Chhattisgarh.