'Bicycle bombs' kill seven in Indian state of Assam

The two devices exploded within minutes near a police station

At least seven people have been killed in two bomb blasts in India's north-eastern state of Assam, police say.

The explosions happened within minutes in Nalbari, 70km (43 miles) from the state capital, Guwahati.

Police said the two devices were mounted on bicycles left near a Nalbari police station and some 25 other people were hurt, reports said.

The police suspect separatist militants from the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) carried out the blasts.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for Sunday's attacks.

Paramilitaries deployed

Television images showed injured people being dragged away a fire caused by one explosion, minutes before another blast nearby.

There were unconfirmed reports of a third blast in a nearby town less than an hour after the first two explosions.

Police and paramilitary troops were deployed across Assam last week after the reported arrest of two Ulfa leaders prompted the group to enforce a 12-long strike across the state.

It has been fighting for an independent homeland in north-east India since 1979.