Shops were empty and buses had few passengers in the main city of India?s restive northeast yesterday, a day after 10 bombs exploded in Assam state. Police say separatist rebels triggered the blasts across the tea-and-oil-rich state late on Wednesday, killing a policeman and wounding four others and damaging shops, vehicles and a police station. People in Guwahati, the main city, feared more attacks after police warned of the possibility of bombs being found in garbage dumps and parking lots.

?Though casualty figures are low compared to the number of bombings, but the militants have succeeded in creating fear among the people,? Anil Agarwalla, a shopkeeper in the largely empty Fancy Bazar area in Guwahati, told Reuters.

Extra soldiers and armed police were present in markets, railway stations and parking areas yesterday. The low-intensity bombs went off within minutes of each other, the majority in crowded public places including the main commercial area of Fancy Bazar and Guwahati airport.

Five of the blasts occurred in Guwahati. Police said militants of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) carried out the bombings, although the group has not claimed responsibility.

The rebels are fighting for independence of Assam, part of the seven states of India?s isolated and insurgency-riven northeast. Wednesday?s attacks were the first in the state since Jan. 26 when rebels exploded two bombs on the main parade ground in Guwahati while the state governor was inspecting a guard of honour. They were no casualties.

?These acts by ULFA show the outfit is in a desperate stage. After losing many of its men and weapons recently, the leadership has resorted to such terrorist acts to boost the morale of its cadres,? Khagen Sharma, Inspector-General of Police, said.