Kamal Ghorui
CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday reacted to two blast incidents in Amritsar and Jalandhar that occurred within hours of each other, sparking panic across the state.Blaming the BJP, Mann said, “This is BJP’s way of working — in any state where they want to contest elections, they first create riots, carry out small blasts, and divide people on the basis of religion and caste. This is BJP’s election preparation… Law and order will be maintained and the guilty will be given strict punishment. I want to tell BJP that Punjab has seen many dark days, and now Punjabis will not tolerate this.“In Amritsar, a suspected explosion was reported late at night near the Khasa cantonment area. Police and Army teams rushed to the spot after hearing the blast. According to Amritsar SP Aditya S Warrier, bomb disposal and forensic teams were deployed to examine the site. He said authorities are still verifying the number of blasts and the exact cause, adding that samples have been sent for detailed analysis. No injuries were reported.Earlier in the evening, a separate incident occurred in Jalandhar, where a scooter parked outside the Border Security Force (BSF) Punjab Frontier headquarters caught fire, with witnesses claiming they heard a loud explosion-like sound. A video circulating online shows a sudden blast, causing panic among bystanders.Police said the vehicle belonged to 22-year-old Gurpreet Singh, a courier delivery worker, who sustained minor injuries. His family said he had just stepped away when the scooter exploded, suspecting that an object may have been thrown at it.A senior police officer said the Khalistan Liberation Army had claimed responsibility for the Jalandhar incident, though the claim is being verified. Possible links to Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti are also under investigation.However, Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur said it was too early to confirm whether it was an explosion or an accidental fire, adding that all angles are being examined.Security agencies, including forensic experts, bomb squads and dog squads, have cordoned off the affected areas as part of the probe. Officials said the injured youth is cooperating with investigators.The incidents come days after a blast attempt on a railway track in Rajpura, Patiala, on April 27, where the accused died during the attempt, raising concerns over security in the border state.Opposition parties criticised the Aam Aadmi Party government, alleging a breakdown in law and order. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia described the incidents as serious and accused authorities of jumping to conclusions without a proper investigation, hinting at a possible cover-up.Leaders from the BJP and Congress also raised concerns over security lapses, calling for stronger measures to restore public confidence.Police said investigations into both incidents are ongoing, and more clarity is expected after forensic reports are examined.
