At least 24 people have been killed in a series of bomb explosions in India's north-eastern state of Assam, police say.
At least 26 people have been killed in a series of bomb explosions in India's north-eastern state of Assam, the police say.
More than 60 others were injured in at least nine blasts, the majority of them in the state capital, Guwahati.
More than 150 others were injured in at least 18 blasts, the majority of them in the main city, Guwahati.
No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts, but police suspect the separatist United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa).
No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts, but police suspect the separatist United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa).
Security forces have been fighting separatist rebels in Assam for decades.
Security forces have been fighting separatist rebels in Assam for decades.
The explosions in Guwahati and the towns of Kokrajhar, Barpeta Road and Bongaigaon occurred within an hour after 1100 local time (0530 GMT).
The explosions in Guwahati and the towns of Kokrajhar, Barpeta Road and Bongaigaon occurred within an hour after 1100 local time (0530 GMT).
Six people were killed in the first explosion in front of the deputy commissioner's office in Guwahati.
Six people were killed in the first explosion in front of the deputy commissioner's office in Guwahati.
Five others were killed in the second explosion at Ganeshguri near the state secretariat and four in Panbazar in central Guwahati.
Five others were killed in the second explosion at Ganeshguri near the state secretariat and four in Panbazar in central Guwahati.
"The impact of the blast was so huge, a packed bus got half burnt and we pulled out lot of injured people and sent them to hospital," Pankaj Goswami, an eyewitness in Guwahati, told Reuters news agency.
"A huge blast hit the bus just before the one I was travelling in. The bus got burnt at the front and pedestrians pulled a lot of people hit by splinters and some suffering burns as well," said engineering student Zinnia Brahma, an eyewitness in Guwahati.
Angry crowds attacked the police with stones after the blasts in the city. Dozens of people were injured in the clashes, Reuters reports.
Angry crowds attacked the police with stones after the blasts in the city. Dozens of people were injured in the clashes, Reuters reports.
Five others were killed in three explosions that rocked the western town of Kokrajhar.
Five others were killed in three explosions that rocked the western town of Kokrajhar.
Explosions were also reported in the towns of Barpeta Road and Bongaigaon, two towns in western Assam.
Explosions were also reported in the towns of Barpeta Road and Bongaigaon, two towns in western Assam.
Assam police chief RN Mathur said most of the bombs were "planted in cars".
'Massive strikes'
'Massive strikes'
Intelligence officials said the separatist United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) was responsible for the blasts.
Intelligence officials blamed Ulfa for the blasts.
Most fighters in one of Ulfa's elite strike battalions have announced a ceasefire with the government and the security forces have attacked and killed many other Ulfa fighters in recent weeks.
Most fighters in one of Ulfa's elite strike battalions have announced a ceasefire with the government and the security forces have attacked and killed many other Ulfa fighters in recent weeks.
"So the Ulfa is striking back in a massive way by taking on soft targets," Assam police chief R N Mathur said.
"So the Ulfa is striking back in a massive way by taking on soft targets," Assam police chief RN Mathur said.
"No other group can trigger so many blasts in so many places in such a coordinated fashion."
"No other group can trigger so many blasts in so many places in such a coordinated fashion."
He said most of the bombs had been "planted in cars".
For the past 10 years, Ulfa has been blamed for bombings targeting gas and oil pipelines, oil depots and areas populated by migrant workers.
Assam police intelligence chief Khagen Sharma told the BBC that the latest bombings prove that the Ulfa is "desperate for survival and does not mind killing even local people indiscriminately".
The group began an armed rebellion against what it describes as colonial rule by Delhi in 1979. Thousands of people have died in the violence.
The group began an armed rebellion against what it describes as colonial rule by Delhi in 1979. Thousands of people have died in the violence.
An effort to start peace talks between the rebels and the Indian government broke down in 2006.
An effort to start peace talks between the rebels and the Indian government broke down in 2006.
The rebels are seeking a separate homeland for the Assamese people and demanding the departure of the non-indigenous population, particularly Hindi speakers.
The rebels are seeking a separate homeland for the Assamese people and demanding that non-indigenous people, particularly Hindi speakers, leave Assam.
India has been rocked by a number of explosions in the past few months, and many of them have been blamed on suspected local Islamic groups.
There have been a number of major bomb attacks in India in the past few months, many of them blamed on local Islamist groups.
But local separatists have been held responsible for recent explosions in north-eastern cities.
But local separatists have been held responsible for recent explosions in north-eastern cities.
Two north-eastern state capitals - Agartala, capital of Tripura, and Imphal, capital of Manipur - have been rocked by serial explosions this month.
Two north-eastern state capitals - Agartala in Tripura and Imphal in Manipur - saw serial explosions this month.
At least 20 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the explosions.
At least 20 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the blasts.
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Are you in Assam? Did you witness any of the blasts? Send us your comments and experiences.
Are you in Assam? Did you witness any of the blasts? Send us your comments and experiences.
