Chandigarh, 06 May (H.S.): Panic gripped part of Punjab late Tuesday night after two explosions were reported in Jalandhar and Amritsar within a span of a few hours. While no casualties have been reported so far, security agencies suspect the possible use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Punjab Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) have launched a joint investigation, and forensic teams are examining evidence from both sites.
The first incident took place near PAP Chowk in Jalandhar, outside a BSF camp. The explosion reportedly occurred in a parked scooter (Activa) belonging to Kashmir Singh, a retired BSF personnel from village Garha. His son, Gurpreet Singh, who works as a courier delivery boy, had parked the vehicle outside the camp before entering the premises.
According to preliminary reports, Gurpreet had gone inside to either deliver or collect a parcel. During police interrogation, he claimed he was there to pick up a package and had called a personnel at the gate while waiting outside. He stated that a Gurpreet passed by moments before the blast occurred. Soon after, the scooter caught fire and exploded.
Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur and senior officials rushed to the spot. She stated that the explosion followed a fire in the scooter, and the exact cause is still under investigation. Two suspects who were reportedly seen near the scooter have been detained for questioning. Gurpreet Singh has also been taken into custody for further interrogation. Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams have collected samples from the site.
Later in the night, around 11:15 PM, another blast was reported outside an Army cantonment area in Khasa, Amritsar. Initially, Following reports of the blast, senior BSF officials and Amritsar Rural SSP Sohail Mir also arrived at the scene. For several hours, the police did not confirm the explosion that had occurred in Amritsar.
Amritsar Rural SSP Sohail Mir stated that preliminary findings suggest an explosive object was thrown from outside the camp boundary. The object reportedly struck a tin shed inside the premises and exploded, causing damage to the structure. No injuries were reported in this incident as well. FSL teams have collected samples from the scene. It will become clear what kind of materials were used in the blasts only after the investigation.
Security has been tightened across sensitive areas in Punjab, especially near military areas.
Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH
