Guwahati, Sep 25 (IANS): One person was killed and eight others injured after suspected militants triggered a blast in Assam's Sivsagar town late Monday, police said.

Police said that all the nine injured were taken to a local hospital but one man died on the way. The condition of three others was said to be serious.

"The incident took place around 9.15 pm at a crowded market place, just in front of the Lakhi Cinema Hall in the town," police said adding that the casualties were less as the market closes at 8.30 p.m. and that there were not people when the blast occurred.

Police suspected the hand of the United Liberation Front of Asom's (ULFA) anti-talk faction, which has a base in the district, behind the blast.

"Preliminary investigation indicated it to be a powerful IED, which was planted in a cycle which was parked in the area," said a senior official of the Assam Police.

The oil- and tea-rich Sivsagar is located about 360 km from Assam's main city Guwahati.

Sivsagar is one of the 16 Assam districts hit by the current wave of floods and at least 53 villages there were submerged till Monday evening.