New Delhi - At least eight militants were killed in separate clashes with security forces in India's north-eastern state of Manipur, police said Friday.

"Police commandos and paramilitary forces killed five militants from the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) in an encounter near a village 30 kilometres from state capital Imphal on Thursday night," a state police officer said by telephone, requesting anonymity.

The KCP, which has been fighting the security forces for an independent homeland for the majority Metei community, claimed responsibility for Tuesday's bombing in Imphal in which 17 people were killed and more than 30 injured.

"The police conducted the raid based on intelligence inputs received on the militants. Some arms and ammunition were also recovered from the scene," the police officer added.

Local media reported that three other militants were killed in separate shoot-outs in the Gouranagar and Maharavi areas on Thursday but their identities were not revealed by police.

There are more than 19 militant groups active in Manipur, which borders Myanmar, with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.

India's north-east is a volatile region where nearly 40 separatist, tribal or leftist groups are active in five states. More than 15,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in the region in the past decade. (dpa)