Khartoum, Nov 27 (IANS): At least 15 people were killed and 10 others injured when gunmen ambushed a vehicle carrying religious students and imams in Sudan's South Darfur state, media reported Thursday.

Four unidentified gunmen attacked the students and imams when they were on their way back to Manwashi area after visiting their relatives in Hamada village, Xinhua reported citing Khartoum's Al-Sudani daily.

The paper cited South Darfur Governor Adam Mahmoud Jaral-Nabi as saying that
a committee has been formed to investigate the "heinous" attack.

Hamada village, 85 km northwest of the state's capital Nyala, came after repeated attacks that left dozens dead and injured 10 years ago, forcing many of its residents to flee to Manwashi area.

Some of the displaced residents have recently started to return to the village.

No one has claimed responsibility for the latest ambush, but Jaral-Nabi said the attack could be perpetuated by those with interests in hampering the return of displaced villagers.