Punjab: Loud Explosions Rock Amritsar and Jalandhar; Residents Shaken by Blasts

Amritsar: News of a “double blast” in Punjab has instilled fear in the minds of the public. The first explosion occurred in Amritsar, while the second took place in Jalandhar. Although the two locations are separated by a distance of 82 kilometers, news of the incidents left people deeply alarmed.

Panic erupted in Amritsar, Punjab, on Tuesday night when the sound of a loud explosion was heard near the Khasa Cantonment area. This incident, which occurred around 10:50 PM, has put the police and security agencies on high alert. While it comes as a relief that there were no casualties in this incident, such activity in a border state has raised several questions regarding the efficacy of the existing security apparatus.

On Tuesday night, the Khasa area of ​​Amritsar suddenly shook from the sound of an explosion. SP Aditya S. Warrier stated that the police received information regarding the blast around 10:50 PM. Given the sensitive nature of the matter, senior police officials, accompanied by Army personnel, immediately rushed to the scene. The entire area has been cordoned off, and stringent security measures have been implemented.

Forensic and BDS Teams Take Charge

To determine the nature of the explosion, the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was summoned to the site. A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) also collected evidence and samples from the scene of the incident. The police are currently attempting to ascertain the type of explosion that occurred and its underlying cause. For the time being, these samples have been sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Suspicious Incident in Jalandhar as Well

Amidst the unfolding events in Amritsar, reports also emerged of a scooter catching fire near BSF Chowk in Jalandhar. Fortunately, no one was injured in this incident either. However, these two separate incidents occurring in different cities on the same day have sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Punjab. The opposition views these two incidents as major security lapses.

Shiromani Akali Dal General Secretary Bikram Singh Majithia has termed the situation as extremely grave. Writing on the social media platform ‘X’, he alleged that the police are attempting to sweep the matter under the rug by dismissing it as a mere tire burst or a gas cylinder explosion, without conducting a thorough investigation. He questioned whether the forensic report had been received so quickly. He has appealed to the Home Minister and the Prime Minister to pay immediate attention to the security situation in Punjab.

Sharp Criticism from BJP and Congress
Punjab BJP General Secretary Parminder Singh Brar cited the Jalandhar incident as proof of the complete collapse of law and order in the state. He asserted that the AAP government is engaging solely in tokenism and that the public is no longer safe. Meanwhile, Congress MLA Pratap Singh Bajwa also expressed deep concern, stating that the government should take proactive measures to ensure security rather than merely issuing reactive statements.

This is not the first instance of such incidents occurring on railway tracks or in sensitive areas within Punjab. Previously, on April 27, an attempt to trigger an explosion on a railway track was made in Rajpura, Patiala, an incident that resulted in the death of the accused. These recurring incidents have further underscored the critical need for heightened security and vigilance in the border state of Punjab.