Six people killed in India blast

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

At least six people have been killed and more than 20 others injured in a bomb explosion in India 's north-eastern state of Manipur.

The blast destroyed a passenger bus which was going from Lamlai to Keibi on Sunday. The dead were all women.

Police official L Kailun told the BBC that the explosive was planted on the road on which the bus was travelling.

It is not yet clear which of Manipur's many rebel groups was responsible for the blast.

Mr Kailun said six passengers were killed on the spot and more than 20 others were injured in the blast.

The dead were all women and included a 13-year-old girl.

Doctors in the state capital, Imphal, said some of those injured were in critical condition and the death toll could rise.

'Don't attack innocents'

The Indian army has launched a massive operation against the state's major separatist group, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), in two hill areas bordering Burma where the rebels have managed to hold on to their bases for the last four years.

The UNLF is one of India's oldest rebel groups

But an UNLF spokesman, contacted by the BBC, said their group was not involved in the blast.

"We don't attack innocent passengers. Our boys will fight against Indian soldiers, not kill our own people travelling in buses like this," said UNLF chief spokesman Tombi Singh.

Intelligence officials say it could be any of the five other Manipuri separatist groups.

But none of these groups have a record of targeting public transport .

The only group in Manipur which has bombed buses before is a small Islamic radical organisation, the People's United Liberation Front, which represents the cause of the state's small indigenous Muslim population, who are known in Manipur as "Pangals".