Four persons were injured when a series of bombs exploded in the northeast Indian state of Manipur during the Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday, said police.

The first explosion was reported from the Thoubal district at around 08:00 a.m. while arrangements were being made to celebrate the occasion by local officials.

Four persons were injured in the blast and the condition of the injured are reportedly critical.

Two other blasts later took place in the state capital Imphal near a parade ground where celebration activities were being prepared.

In the neighboring state of Meghalaya, a shutdown was staged by a local militant group on the Independence Day Wednesday, said police.

The shutdown was called by outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), which conducts hit-and-run raids from its hideouts in neighboring Bangladesh and wants a sovereign Khasi homeland in the state.