parcel explodes
The JD (U) Gaya leader was in Delhi when the parcel exploded at his residence. [Representational Image]Creative Commons/Ke21 0

At least one person was killed and another seriously injured when a parcel addressed to Janata Dal United (JD (U)) leader Abhay Kushwaha exploded on Tuesday morning, a night after being delivered to his residence in Bihar.

The deceased has been identified as Kushwaha's cousin, Santosh Kumar, 24, while the injured is the former's brother-in-law Jai Hind Kumar, who is undergoing treatment at Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital (ANMMCH).

The explosion occurred on Tuesday morning when Santosh and Jai tried to open the parcel at Kushwaha's residence.

"The bomb was in a parcel sent to Kushwaha's house in Kujati village under Chandauti police station. It had wires attached to it and the two persons were putting it aside when it exploded. Kumar died on the spot," PTI quoted Gaya Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj as saying.

The police said that the explosion was not strong and was limited to a small area. They are investigating whether it was a Naxal attack or a case of personal enmity.

"We are investigating the matter. We cannot say right now whether it is a Naxal incident or somebody did it due to personal enmity," Maharaj said.

The parcel was hand-delivered to Kushwaha's home on Monday evening. Kushwaha, who leads the Gaya unit of Nitish Kumar-led JD (U), is in Delhi.