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DATE=7/29/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-236223 TITLE=INDIA / MILITANTS (L-O) CQ BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA DATELINE=NEW DELHI CONTEN INTRO: IN INDIA'S REMOTE NORTHEASTERN STATE OF ASSAM, AUTHORITIES SAY EIGHT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND 19 OTHERS WOUNDED IN A POWERFUL BOMB EXPLOSION. POLICE ARE BLAMING THE ATTACK ON BODO TRIBAL GUERRILLAS. ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI. TEXT: THE BOMB EXPLODED WEDNESDAY IN A VILLAGE MARKETPLACE IN ASSAM'S NALBARI DISTRICT. POLICE SAY THE WEEKLY MARKET WAS FULL OF SHOPPERS AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK. POLICE HAVE CORDONED OFF THE AREA AND INTENSIFIED SECURITY IN THE REGION AS THEY LAUNCH A SEARCH OPERATION. NO ONE HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK, BUT POLICE SUSPECT BODO REBELS SET THE BOMB. THE BODOS HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR A SEPARATE STATE WITHIN ASSAM SINCE 1987. THEIR CAMPAIGN IS OFTEN VIOLENT, AS THEY TARGET BOTH RIVAL TRIBES AND SECURITY FORCES TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR DEMANDS. THE BODOS BLAME THE GOVERNMENT FOR DENYING THEM POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. THE REBELS SAY AUTHORITIES HAVE NEGLECTED DEVELOPMENT OF THE REMOTE AREA THEY INHABIT, AND FEAR THEY ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR MAJORITY-STATUS TO WAVES OF BANGLA-SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS. THE BODO MILITANCY IS ONE OF SEVERAL INSURGENCIES INDIAN SECURITY FORCES ARE GRAPPLING WITH IN SEPARATE PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. IN THE NORTHERN JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE, HUNDREDS OF KILOMETERS FROM ASSAM, AUTHORITIES SAY AN EXPLOSION RIPPED APART AN ARMY TRUCK (WEDNESDAY) KILLING TWO SOLDIERS AND WOUNDING SEVERAL OTHERS. OFFICIALS SAY THE EXPLOSION IN THE POONCH DISTRICT WAS CAUSED BY EITHER A LAND MINE OR A BOMB PLANTED BY SUSPECTED MUSLIM MILITANTS. MUSLIM SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR NEARLY A DECADE TO FREE PREDOMINATLY-MUSLIM KASHMIR FROM HINDU-MAJORITY INDIA. NEARLY 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE INSURGENCY. (SIGNED) NEB/AP/LTD/RAE 29-Jul-98 11:54 AM EDT (1554 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .