Punjab on high alert: Security agencies have been put on high alert across Punjab after a suspicious blast rocked the Khasa area near Amritsar Cantonment at around 10.50 pm on Tuesday, with no casualties reported.
The incident, which prompted an immediate response from the police, army and forensic teams, occurred within hours of a scooter catching fire near BSF Chowk in Jalandhar, drawing sharp condemnation from the Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP and Congress.
What Happened in Khasa: Amritsar Blast Timeline
Police received information about the suspected explosion shortly before midnight following which senior officers along with army personnel from the cantonment rushed to the spot.
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Speaking to ANI, SP Aditya S. Warrier confirmed the sequence of events: “Around 10:50 pm, the police received a complaint about the sound of an explosion near Khassa Cantonment. A police team reached the spot along with senior army officials based in the cantonment. A BDS team was also called to conduct an inspection there and check how much evidence was collected. The explosions took place and how.”
The bomb disposal unit conducted a thorough search of the area while the Forensic Science Laboratory collected samples from the site. All material has been sent for analysis to determine the nature and origin of the incident. The preliminary investigation is still ongoing.
Jalandhar scooter fire near BSF headquarters raises security concerns
Hours before the Amritsar incident, a scooter caught fire near BSF Chowk in Jalandhar. Local authorities responded quickly and there were no injuries in this incident.
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The two events, which occurred on the same night in two of Punjab’s most strategically sensitive cities, gave the opposition parties immediate political ammunition against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government.
Alleging a cover-up, the SAD calls on the Center to intervene
Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary Bikram Singh Majithia has been among the most vocal critics who have questioned the speed with which the authorities are apparently offering an explanation for the Jalandhar incident.
“Just connect the dots… Just as grenade attacks are often dismissed as bursting tires, the claim of a loud explosion suggests the start of a cover-up operation. Was the commissioner able to complete the investigation so quickly? Has the forensics team submitted their report yet? It seems the cover-up started the moment the blast happened,” Majithia wrote on X.
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Majithia questioned how the blast could have taken place in an area as busy and sensitive as the area near the BSF headquarters and criticized what he described as the police jumping to conclusions within minutes of the incident without completing a proper investigation. He urged the Union Home Minister and the Prime Minister to take cognizance of the deteriorating security climate in Punjab, saying the situation required national attention.
The BJP calls it a “chilling reminder” of broken law and order
BJP Punjab general secretary Parminder Singh Brar termed the Jalandhar blast as evidence of a wider government failure and aimed his criticism squarely at the AAP administration.
“The blast near the BSF headquarters in Jalandhar is a chilling reminder of the crumbling law and order in Punjab. The explosion of a scooter in a crowded area shows how dangerously dangerous public spaces have become. The Aam Aadmi Party Punjab government must be held accountable; government cannot be replaced by optics and theatre.”
Congress calls for proactive steps and wishes for the recovery of the injured BSF Jawan
Congress leader and Punjab MLA Partap Singh Bajwa struck a more alarming tone than a direct political attack, though he also called for stronger preventive measures by the state government.
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“The blast in Jalandhar is deeply alarming. Incidents like these point to serious lapses in security and vigilance. The government must then stop reacting and start taking proactive, visible steps to secure lives and restore public confidence. We wish the injured BSF jawan a speedy recovery,” Bajwa said.
An earlier blast on a railway track in Rajpura adds to the pattern of incidents
Tuesday’s incidents did not occur in isolation. On 27 April, there was an explosion on a railway track in Rajpura area of Patiala district after a detonation attempt late at night. Patiala police confirmed that the person who carried out the attempt died in the explosion; no other casualties or property damage were reported in this incident.
Forensic analysis of Tuesday’s blast in Amritsar is pending and authorities are yet to establish a definitive cause. More details are expected as the investigation progresses.
