Scoots take over near BSF Chowk in Jalandhar on May 5, 2026. Photo credit: ANI
On Tuesday (May 5, 2026), two separate low-intensity blasts were reported near military areas in Punjab’s Amritsar and Jalandhar within a few hours, triggering panic. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what he called “small blasts”, while state police chief Gaurav Yadav attributed the incidents to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence.
A low-intensity explosion was reported from the boundary wall of the Indian Army Military Area on Khasa Road in Amritsar at around 11:00 pm on Tuesday evening. Earlier in the evening, around 8:00 pm in Jalandhar, a scooter parked near the Border Security Force headquarters in Punjab caught fire. Some locals claimed to have heard an explosion-like sound coming from the vehicle.
The blasts sparked a heated political holiday on Wednesday (May 6, 2026), with leaders of rival parties lashing out at each other over the blasts.
Two separate low-intensity explosions within a few hours late Tuesday night were reported near military areas in #PunjabAmritsar and Jalandhar are causing anxiety even as security has been beefed up across the state.
Video: PTIhttps://t.co/an1STdYHkUpic.twitter.com/vCRSf03hSY
— The Hindu (@the_hindu) May 6, 2026
Mr Mann accused the BJP of trying to turn Punjab into a laboratory of fear and violence ahead of parliamentary elections due in early 2027. “Bengal elections have just ended. They (BJP) themselves have said that it is Punjab’s turn now. This means that the small bomb blasts that took place and are currently being investigated are part of the preparation for the Punjab elections and ensure the spread of BJP’s election intimidation. people,” the CM said.
The BJP condemned his remarks and demanded Mr. Mann’s immediate resignation. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has completely failed to maintain law and order, said BJP Punjab president Sunil Jakhar. “The bomb blasts that took place last night in Jalandhar and Amritsar are a matter of grave concern, but what is even more worrying is the statement made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. While the Punjab DGP (Director General of Police) is saying that Pakistan’s ISI is behind these incidents, the Chief Minister is making politically motivated and irresponsible remarks,” Mr Jakhar said.
In Amritsar, talking to media persons, the DGP said that a low-intensity explosion was reported from the border wall of an army camp located in Khassa Cantonment. “The investigation is in close coordination with the military and other agencies. They are probing human intelligence, technical intelligence and forensic inputs. No one has claimed responsibility for this (Amritsar) incident, but we suspect that due to the anniversary of Operation Sindoor, it is part of Pakistan’s ISI plans to cause disruption in Punjab. An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was used in Punjab.
“There is no link between the two incidents as of now. We are looking into all angles. An outfit called Khalistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the Jalandhar incident, which we are verifying,” Mr Yadav said.
Conflicting narratives coming from the government itself were creating confusion and spreading fear among the public, said Leader of the Opposition in Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa of the Congress.
“If Bhagwant Mann is really in possession of information or intelligence suggesting the involvement of BJP leaders or workers in these incidents, then he must immediately present all the evidence to the people of Punjab and direct the Punjab Police to register criminal cases against any individual responsible,” Mr Bajwa said.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Daljit Singh Cheema called Mr Mann’s statement “deeply irresponsible”. “Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s comments on the blasts are deeply irresponsible and threaten to undermine India’s national security narrative at a critical time. Making baseless political allegations instead of matching official security assessments only weakens the country’s position and gives space to hostile forces to exploit internal divisions around the world,” Mr Cheema said.
Published – 06 May 2026 07:50 IST
