Militants bomb newspaper office

Two armed militants set off a powerful bomb in a newspaper office in north-east India, after having ushered employees outside at gunpoint.

No-one was hurt in the daily Lamyanba's office in Imphal, the capital of Manipur state, the Press Trust of India said.

The two men entered the Pan Manipur Youth League building, where the newspaper is located, under the pretence of intending to enrol on a course being held there, PTI said quoting official sources.

The men forced 11 trainee journalists and 40 other employees out of the building.

The bomb went off about 45 minutes later, at about midday local time, blowing the front of the building.

No known motive

No-one was reported to have been hurt in the blast, although vehicles outside in the street were destroyed.

PTI news agency said the motive of the attack was not known.

Lamyanba editor Irengbam Arun said the armed men had been instructed to carry out the mission "by elders".

The attack comes a week after the editor of another local newspaper was shot by unidentified gunmen.

Thousands of people have been killed during a 20-year insurgency in Manipur, where numerous armed groups are fighting for autonomy or independence.