A powerful explosion that rocked the Nalagarh area in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district on Thursday has triggered a major security alert. Punjab Police officials now suspect the involvement of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), alleging the attack was designed to destabilize the entire region.
Explosion and Responsibility Claim
The incident occurred near the Nalagarh police station. Shortly after the blast, a purported press note surfaced online. In it, two groups—the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and the Punjab Sovereignty Alliance (PSA)—jointly claimed responsibility for the attack.
The note identified the mission as being planned and executed by individuals named Gopi Nawanshehria and Kabal Singh. It is noteworthy that Nawanshehria has been linked to and has claimed several attacks on police establishments since November 2024.
Stated Motive vs. Police Theory
In their statement, the BKI and PSA claimed the target was "synthetic drugs manufactured in Himachal Pradesh and sent into Punjab." This ideological claim, however, has been firmly dismissed by senior police authorities.
A high-ranking police officer, speaking to The Times of India, labeled these claims a "farce." The officer presented a starkly different narrative, pointing the finger directly at Pakistan's premier intelligence agency.
"These elements are working at the behest of ISI to destabilize the region," the officer stated, indicating that the drug-related justification was merely a cover for a deeper, more sinister agenda aimed at creating unrest.
Security Implications and Investigation
The blast and the subsequent claims have raised serious concerns about cross-border terrorism and the security of the Punjab-Himachal border region. The immediate attribution to the ISI suggests intelligence inputs point towards foreign sponsorship of the act.
Investigations are now focused on multiple angles:
- Verifying the authenticity of the press note and the claims made by BKI and PSA.
- Tracing the movements and networks of Gopi Nawanshehria and Kabal Singh.
- Gathering forensic evidence from the blast site in Nalagarh.
- Analyzing intelligence to establish the alleged ISI link.
The incident underscores the persistent threat of externally fueled militancy in the region, prompting security agencies to heighten vigilance and coordination between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh police forces.
