Gunmen kill seven policemen in northeastern Indian state of Manipur

Gunmen ambushed and shot dead seven policemen in the restive northeastern Indian state of Manipur on Friday, police said, but a local politician managed to escape unhurt.

Six other policemen were wounded when the gunmen jumped the convoy carrying local legislator W. Keishing near the village of Riha, 35 kilometres (22 miles) east of Manipur's capital Imphal, a police spokesman said.

He said the lawmaker escaped with minor bruises which he sustained while jumping off his vehicle during the raid.

"The militants opened indiscriminate fire from automatic weapons killing seven policemen on the spot and injuring six more," a police official who did not want to be identified said by telephone from Imphal.