Agencies

Guwahati, Apr 6: At least six persons were killed and 30 others injured today in a powerful car bomb explosion triggered by suspected ULFA militants at Maligaon in Guwahati.

Four persons died on the spot when the bomb planted in a car at a parking area near Maligaon Chariali went off at about 2 pm, official sources said.

Nine of the injured were admitted to nearby Sanjivani Hospital, two in the adjacent Northast Frontier Railway Headquarters hospital and the rest were sent to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, sources said.

Police blamed the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for the attack and said it took place in the busy Maligaon area of Assam's main city of Guwahati around 1.45 p.m.

"The bomb was planted on a parked motorcycle," senior police official G.P. Singh said.

"The blast comes a day before the ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom) marks its 30th foundation day and we had intelligence inputs about the group planning some attacks in the city," he added.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to address an election rally for the ruling Congress party in Dibrugarh, 500 km east of Guwahati.

The area was packed with people when the explosion occurred.

"Among the injured were several schoolchildren who were returning home," said Debajit Das, who witnessed the explosion.

The injured have been shifted to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.