GUWAHATI. India. Dec 31: Four people were killed and 10 others injured when militants attacked the convoy of a minister in the troubled north-eastern Indian state of Assam overnight, police said today, reports AFP.

Urban guerillas of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) opened fire at the convoy of Assam Health Minister Bhu midhar Barman in Nalbari district late .Saturday killing two of bodyguards and two of his colleagues, police said.

"The militants who were hiding in the bushes alongside the road opened fire at thft convoy. The firing continued for a few minutes. My bodyguards returned the fire but the militants escaped.' Barman told AFP.

"I jumped from the car and walked about three kilometres (1.86 miles) across a paddy field to reach the Mu-lakmia police station. The militants chased me for about

a kilometre (nearly a mile) but I managed to reach the police station." Barman said.

Seven security personnel and three civilians accompanying the minister s convoy In two other cars received serious injuries, police said.

Police said two of the cars in the convoy were badly damaged in the attack in which the guerillas used automatic rifles and lobbed hand grenades.

"One of the militants has been arrested." the police said.

The militants had twice earlier attacked Barman, who they allege has been responsible for the surrender of a large number of militants in Nalbari district, 120 kilometres (74 miles) north of capital Guwahati. two years ago;

The United Liberation Front of Assam was formed in 1979. The urban guerilla group, which "no longer tolerates colonial exploitation by India." is fighting for a sovereign socialist Assam.