NEW DELHI, July 3 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and another wounded critically in a crude bomb explosion in India's eastern state of West Bengal, police said Monday.
The explosion took place late Sunday night in Shalipur village in the Haroa area of North 24 Parganas district, about 41 km east of Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal.
A police official said the authorities are investigating under what circumstances the explosion took place.
The blast comes days ahead of rural body elections (locally called panchayat polls) that are scheduled to be held in West Bengal on July 8.
Reports said over the past few weeks, the state saw an increase in violence, which has left nearly a dozen people dead and several injured.
The political parties are blaming each other for the violence.