Punjab On Alert After Blasts Near Army And BSF Installations

Although initially, police claimed the explosion in Jalandhar occurred due to the scooty catching fire, sources added that initial probe pointed towards the usage of improvised explosive devices in both blasts. 

Scooty Explosion Sparks Panic In Jalandhar

A scooty parked just outside the BSF Punjab Frontier Headquarters in Jalandhar caught fire around 8 pm which panicked the area and the locals there claim to have heard an explosion-like sound from the scooty. The headquarters is located on the road which connects Jalandhar with the Amritsar-Delhi highway. 

As soon as the accident occurred the locals started to fear that a bomb explosion took place outside the headquarters and after receiving the report the police quickly took charge of the situation and made an immediate alert, Police did not report any casualties and further investigation to check how the scooty caught fire are going on however, CCTV visuals of the scooty suddenly exploding then taking the form of fire have also surfaced. 

Second Blast in Khasa Cantonment Amritsar

A blast occurred near the Khasa Cantonment area of Amritsar a few hours later around 10:50pm and quick action was taken by the security and police department. No loss of life and injuries have been reported but the whole city was alerted after the two explosions occurred, police said it was an unknown suspect. 

After police received information, senior army officials posted in the Cantonment rushed to the spot along with their security officers and the Bomb Disposal Squad. Samples have been sent for the tests to find out if the explosion was carried out by the locals and a preliminary inquiry into the whole matter is on and further information is expected. 

Opposition Slams Punjab Security Situation

Opposition parties are blaming the AAP government and saying the ruling government is responsible for this. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said that the two blasts near two army installations in Punjab in three hours is a sign of deteriorating security situation in the state. 

He said, "A blast in a delivery scooter in a crowded area exposes a serious collapse of law and order. Punjab is a sensitive border state; such incidents raise grave national security concerns. Yet, while the AAP-led Punjab government is busy parading its MLAs before the President, the BJP-led Centre is equally distracted and failing in its responsibility to ensure security. People deserve safety, not political theatre.”