International News

KOLKATA, (APP/AFP) – Two people were killed on Tuesday
when the crude bombs they were making exploded in India’s West Bengal, a senior local police officer said.
One person was also injured in the blasts which occurred in a village
in Murshidabad district, 230 kilometres (193 miles) north of state capital Kolkata.
The state is due to hold local elections next month, and homemade
bombs are sometimes planted by workers from political parties to prevent voters in their rivals’ strongholds from turning out on polling day.
“Two people were killed and one wounded when the bombs they were
making in a mud hut in Bharatpur village exploded before dawn on Tuesday,” C Sudhakar police superintendent of Murshidabad district, told AFP.
“There was a huge sound when the explosion happened,” Sudhakar said,
adding that it was unclear how many bombs had exploded as only remnants of explosive materials were found.
No arrests have been made so far.
Last month, police recovered 80 crude bombs from a house of a local
leader of West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress party, according to local media.
India has sent additional security forces to West Bengal to prevent
any political violence ahead of the elections, which will be held in phases across the large eastern state from next month.
West Bengal is one of five states heading to the polls in April and
May, with powerful regional parties expected to play a dominant role.