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India minister among 11 dead in Assam violence

GUWAHATI: A minister in India's Assam state government was among 11 people killed on Sunday in an explosion and gunbattles with rebels in the northeastern state, police said.

Nagen Sharma, a Forest and Public Works Department minister, was one of people killed in a bomb blast in Bahjari in Nalbari district some 70 km (44 miles) west of the state capital Dispur, a police officer said.

Earlier, an Indian army officer was killed in a gunbattle with Maoist United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants near Raha, 120 km (75 miles) east of Dispur.

"Three militants of the ULFA and a lieutenant were killed at Bagariguri village near Raha following an encounter," a defence spokesman said.-Reuters