Voting begins as India's ruling party face poll tests

NEW DELHI (AFP) - Voters cast ballots in the Indian state of Manipur on Saturday, kicking off a string of five local elections that are seen as a mini-referendum on the embattled national government's performance.

Voting was held under tight security in the violent and highly militarised north-eastern state of 2.7 million people, home to a diverse mix of fractious tribes as well as at least 30 rebel groups.

Security forces were keen to keep a lid on violence in the impoverished state where several blasts took place in the run-up to the vote.

One person was hurt on Friday when rebels detonated a bomb at the house of a former government official, the Press Trust of India reported.