Bomb Blast Kills 15 At Independence Day Parade In Northeastern India

GUWAHATI, India, Aug 15 (AFP) - At least 15 people were killed Sunday when a powerful bomb exploded at an Independence Day parade in the revolt-hit northeastern Indian state of Assam, police said.
An unknown number of others were injured in the explosion in the town of Ghemaji, 460 kilometres (285 miles) east of the state capital Guwahati, police inspector general Khagen Sharma told AFP.
Initial reports said many of the victims were school children who had turned out in large numbers to participate in the parade, Sharma said.
None of Assam's several insurgent groups had claimed responsibility for the attack but Sharma said police suspected the region's United Liberation Front of Asom separatist group was behind the bombing.
Various insurgent outfits in six of India's seven northeastern states that are seeking greater autonomy or independence had called for a boycott of the annual Independence Day celebrations.