From correspondents in India, 11:00 PM IST

At least five people were injured in a minor explosion in Kanpur city of Uttar Pradesh Tuesday evening, police said, adding that it was seemingly caused by crude bombs and not a terrorist attack.

The explosion took place outside a country liquor shop in Colonelganj locality of the city around 7 p.m., police officials said.

'It seems that a man had purchased firecrackers ahead of the Diwali festival and he left his 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, senior police officials did not rule out some criminals being behind it.

'The bombs were crude and it appears that some criminal element was carrying them for some crime. However, no one received serious injuries besides minor bruises,' 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 and the injured were rushed to hospital, he said.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)