Kanpur: At least five people were injured in a minor explosion here Tuesday evening, with the Uttar Pradesh police saying it was seemingly caused by firecrackers and was not a terror attack.

The explosion took place outside a liquor vend in Colonelganj locality under the Bajaria police station of the city around 7 p.m., police officials said.

Police said it seemed that a man had purchased firecrackers ahead of the Diwali festival and left these in a bag on his bicycle. Apparently, the firecrackers went off accidentally, injuring five people including three children, senior superintendent of police H.R. Sharma told IANS.

However, another police officer did not rule out some criminals being behind the incident.

"The bombs were crude and it appears that some criminal element was carrying them for some crime," additional director general of police (Crime, Law and Order) Brijlal told IANS. "We are probing the incident and hope to nab the culprit soon," he added.

Senior police officials rushed to the spot, Sharma said. "The injured are undergoing treatment in the Ursla government hospital," he said.

"Some mischief mongers are linking the incident to terrorist activities. Public should not pay heed to such rumors," added Sharma

Kanpur is about 90 km from Lucknow.

 

Source : IANS