At least 17 people were killed and 16 injured in a massive bomb explosion Imphal, the capital of Manipur Tuesday evening, two days after a blast near the Manipur's chief minister's official residence in Mumbai, according to NDTV.

Chief Minister of the eastern Indian state of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh (2ndR) stands with officials while they visit injured people lying in a ward of a hospital in Imphal. At least 17 people were killed and more than 16 injured when a powerful bomb exploded Tuesday near a police barracks in Imphal city in northeastern India, police said.[Xinhua/AFP]

"A bomb kept on a moped went off around 8 p.m.," Imphal superintendent of Police Radheshyam said.

Eleven people were killed on the spot and three people succumbed to injuries in hospital, he said.

The blast took place close to a Manipur Police commando complex, which is a residential area.

"We are not yet sure if any of the police commandos are among those killed or injured," Radheshyam said.

The injured have been rushed to various hospitals in the city.

This is by far the biggest bomb attack in Manipur's capital, a heavily guarded city that has seen frequent bomb or grenade attacks.

On Sunday, a bomb exploded close to Manipur's Chief Minister Ibobi Singh's heavily fortified residence but there were no casualties.

A caller claiming to be a member of the People's Revolutionary Party of Kamgleipak (PREPAK), a separatist group, said the outfit was behind Sunday's blast.

No one has claimed responsibility yet for Tuesday's deadly attack that has set off panic in the city.

Indian paramilitary soldiers examine the wreckage of a motorcycle in which they believe explosives were hidden. At least 17 people were killed and more than 16 injured when a powerful bomb exploded Tuesday near a police barracks in Imphal city in northeastern India, police said.[Xinhua/AFP]

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2008)