At least nine migrant workers were killed in a bombing by suspected militants in India’s north-eastern state of Manipur, police said on Saturday.
Eleven more people were injured in attack in the Nagamapal residential area on the outskirts of state capital Imphal late Friday.
“The bomb was planted inside a makeshift shed,” said Maibam Anant Kumar, an officer at the police control room. “Four people died on the spot, and five more succumbed to injuries in hospital.” The death toll could rise as two of the injured were in a critical condition, police said. All the victims were workers from the neighbouring state of Assam.
Police said no militant group had claimed responsibility but a search had been launched.
About 20 militant groups are active in Manipur, which borders Myanmar. Their demands range from secession to greater autonomy.
According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, a total of 5,875 people including 2,704 militants and 2,200 civilians have been killed in insurgency-related incidents since 1992.