Two major suspected blasts occurred in Punjab's Amritsar and Jalandhar within a span of three hours late at night, triggering widespread panic across the state. The explosions took place near the Khasa Army Cantt in Amritsar and outside the BSF Headquarters in Jalandhar. Following these incidents, security agencies have been placed on high alert. While the blast in Amritsar occurred at the boundary wall of the Khasa Army Cantt, the explosion in Jalandhar took place in a scooty parked outside the BSF Headquarters, which subsequently caught fire. The Jalandhar incident was captured on CCTV.
Explosion at Khasa Army Cantt in Amritsar
Punjab Police confirmed that the blast at the Khasa Army Cantt boundary wall in Amritsar was caused by an explosive thrown from outside. Preliminary reports suggest that masked individuals on a motorcycle threw the explosive and fled the scene. Forensic teams discovered iron tin-like fragments stuck to the boundary wall, indicating the nature of the device. The impact of the blast caused the collapse of tin sheds used to cover the military area and resulted in minor damage to the wall between Gate No. 6 and Gate No. 7. No casualties were reported in this incident.
Scooty Blast Outside BSF Headquarters in Jalandhar
In Jalandhar, the explosion occurred between 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM outside the BSF Headquarters. A scooty parked in the vicinity exploded and caught fire immediately. Sources indicate that initial investigations at both Amritsar and Jalandhar suggest the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Notably, the BSF Khasa camp is also located near the Army camp where the Amritsar blast occurred. The Indian Army's bomb disposal squad, specialized experts, and forensic teams from the Punjab Police are currently inspecting the sites to determine the exact nature of the explosives.
Security Operations and Political Reactions
Immediately after the blasts, military and police officials reached the spots and launched a massive search operation in the surrounding areas. There is a suspicion that a grenade might have been used in the attacks, while meanwhile, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring reacted strongly to the incidents, stating that the consecutive blasts have shaken the state. He questioned the Punjab government's failure to prevent such incidents and pointed towards serious lapses in the intelligence and security apparatus. Warring demanded immediate accountability and action, emphasizing that the peace of Punjab can't be compromised.
It's worth noting that a few days ago, a powerful explosion occurred on the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFCCI) railway line between Rajpura and Shambhu railway stations in Patiala district. That blast was also loud enough to be heard at a distance, though no damage was reported, while currently, security has been tightened across Punjab following the Amritsar and Jalandhar incidents, and the search for the suspects is ongoing.