NEW DELHI, Jan 28: Rebels shot dead five people at a polling station in India on Saturday as voting began in the first of five local elections seen as a popularity test for the Congress government.

The separatist rebels sprayed the voting booth with bullets, killing three election officials, a paramilitary trooper and a civilian in Thangpi, a village south of Manipur state capital Imphal, police chief Priya Singh said.

“The militants opened random fire,” Mr Singh said, adding that two other people were hurt in the attack which came despite thousands of security forces deployed in a bid to thwart attacks.

The rebels who staged the attack in far-flung Manipur were believed to be from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, Mr Singh said, but added no group had claimed responsibility.

Tensions were elevated in Manipur after five explosions in the run-up to the polls killed two people, along with rebel calls for a boycott of the election, police said.—AFP