Separatist guerrillas in Assam triggered an explosion on Saturday targeted at an army convoy. There were no casualties, officials said.
A police spokesman said militants suspected to be from the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) attacked a four-vehicle army convoy with an improvised explosive device near Mahmara village in Sivasagar district, about 390 km from the state's main city of Guwahati.
"There were no casualties in the blast and the impact was marginal," Assam Police intelligence chief Khagen Sharma said.
The attack was believed to be in retaliation to the killing of a local ULFA rebel two days back in a gun battle with soldiers.
"The body of the slain ULFA militant was due for cremation on Saturday in the area where the blast took place. We believe this is some sort of a retaliatory attack although no damage was done," said a senior police official in Sivasagar.
Army soldiers under the Unified Command Structure were engaged in a massive anti-insurgency operation in parts of eastern Assam since New Delhi called off a ceasefire with the ULFA last month.
At least four ULFA rebels were killed and several more captured in continuing raids by security forces. The ULFA too had stepped up its response with a string of grenade attacks killing at least two and wounding 30 others in separate incidents during the past fortnight.
The ULFA had threatened to attack leaders and kin of the ruling Congress party.
{{/usCountry}}The ULFA had threatened to attack leaders and kin of the ruling Congress party.
{{/usCountry}}"Such threats to Congress leaders are not uncommon," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.