Serial blasts in northeast India, 61 dead

INDIA: At least 61 people were killed and over 300 injured Thursday in a dozen blasts that ripped through towns and markets in the insurgency-hit northeastern Indian state of Assam, police said.

A police spokesman confirmed a total of 12 blasts within the space of about one hour, five of them in the state's main city of Guwahati.

Three other districts in western Assam were also targeted.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, although state officials said the bombings were probably the work of the rebel United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).

"This is an act of cowardice... designed and carried out to spread terror," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, adding that the army had been placed on standby. But the ULFA denied any role in the attacks.

"We are in no way involved in the blasts," the group said in a statement.

Assam's home commissioner, Subhas Das, put the death toll at 48, with 25 of the fatalities in Guwahati, where the blasts targeted busy markets, including one close to the high security secretariat and state assembly. To page 14