The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday joined the investigation into the twin explosions that occurred in Jalandhar and Amritsar, Punjab. Teams from the agency have been deployed to assist the Punjab Police in securing forensic evidence and gathering key inputs from the blast sites.
NIA Teams Deployed
Sources confirmed that NIA teams are en route to the locations and will work alongside state agencies. Investigators are examining CCTV footage, debris, and forensic samples to determine the sequence of events that led to the back-to-back explosions, which have raised fresh security concerns in the border state.
Amritsar Blast Details
Security was tightened in Amritsar after a late-night explosion near the Khasa cantonment area. Police sealed roads and restricted movement for surveillance. ASI Karam Singh confirmed that the area had been cordoned off. The blast occurred around 10:50 pm, prompting a rapid response from police, army personnel, and bomb disposal teams. SP Aditya S Warrier stated that the Bomb Disposal Squad and forensic teams collected samples, which have been sent for analysis to determine the nature of the blast. Preliminary findings suggest that an explosive object may have been hurled at a boundary wall, causing damage. CCTV visuals captured the moment of the blast, and locals reported being jolted awake by the loud explosion.
Jalandhar Blast Details
The Amritsar incident occurred roughly three hours after another explosion near the Border Security Force (BSF) Punjab Frontier headquarters in Jalandhar around 8 pm. The blast triggered panic, damaging a scooter, a traffic signal pole, and nearby shop windows. Police said the scooter belonged to a delivery worker named Gurpreet Singh and caught fire following a loud sound. Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur stated that the exact cause remains under investigation and it is too early to confirm whether it was a deliberate blast. Forensic teams, dog squads, and bomb disposal units were deployed. CCTV footage showed a plume of smoke and a person running from the scene moments after the explosion.
No Casualties Reported
No casualties were reported in either incident, though both sites remain under tight security as investigations continue. Officials are also probing possible links between the two blasts, especially after a recent explosion at a freight rail corridor in Patiala's Shambhu area, where suspects linked to a pro-Khalistan module allegedly backed by Pakistan's ISI were arrested.
Political Reactions
The incidents have sparked a political storm, with opposition parties targeting the Aam Aadmi Party government over alleged law-and-order failures. Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of failing to ensure security. Congress leader Raj Kumar questioned the timing of the incidents, alleging a possible conspiracy ahead of elections and raising concerns over lapses by both the Centre and the state government. Leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said two explosions within hours cannot be brushed aside as coincidence, urging swift identification and strict action against those responsible. He warned that fear and speculation could deepen uncertainty in Punjab. Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also flagged serious concerns, calling the blasts deeply alarming and demanding accountability, while pointing to repeated intelligence and security lapses. Senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia questioned whether law and order in the sensitive border state had collapsed, pointing to multiple blast incidents in recent days.
Investigation Ongoing
With central and state agencies now jointly probing the case, officials say all angles are under scrutiny. Preliminary investigations are ongoing, and more details are awaited as forensic and intelligence findings come in.
