Protests against deadly bombings bring India's Assam to a halt

Guwahati: A strike to protest against bombings that killed 82 people in India's troubled Assam state last week shut down the region on Monday, police said, with angry Indians blaming illegal Bangladeshi migrants.

Protesters marched through the streets of Guwahati, where 43 people died on Thursday when three bombs went off within minutes.

A little-known Islamist group has claimed responsibility for Thursday's serial blasts in the tea- and oil-producing state, the worst strike in the troubled region that also wounded 300 people.

Police suspect that Islamist militants working with separatists in Assam were behind the bombings.

Several students' groups called the day-long strike across the state, demanding a crackdown on illegal settlers.

"We are going to intensify our campaign to drive out Bangladeshis from the region," said Samujjal Bhattacharjee of the Northeast Students Organisation.

"We also appeal to people to free our society from these elements who are the real cause of terror."

Police said they arrested 50 protesters.

The Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, India's main opposition, has also criticised the government for not doing enough to stop Bangladeshi nationals from crossing over to India.

India's home ministry says up to 20 million Bangladeshis live in India illegally.

At least 10 Muslims, mostly Bangladeshis, have been detained for suspected links with the Assam bombers, police said.