Patiala: An improvised explosive device (IED) blast killed a suspected bomber and damaged a section of the dedicated freight corridor railway track near Bathonia village, between Rajpura and Shambhu in Patiala district, late Monday night.
Blast Details
Police reported that the man was planting the device when it detonated prematurely around 10 pm. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varun Sharma described it as a low-intensity explosion. The deceased was identified as a resident of Tarn Taran, but his full identity has been withheld pending notification of his family.
Investigation and Suspicions
Investigators are probing potential links to a "terror module" and the possibility of a coordinated sabotage campaign targeting the freight supply chain between Punjab and the rest of the country. No group has claimed responsibility so far. This marks the second attack on a freight corridor in Punjab this year. In January, a similar blast near Khanpur village in Fatehgarh Sahib's Sirhind region damaged tracks, derailed a goods train engine, and injured the loco pilot.
Evidence Collected
At the site, police teams recovered a damaged mobile phone, two motorcycles, wires, and explosive materials. Multiple agencies are working to determine the exact nature of the device. State forensic teams collected soil samples and chemical residues to identify the explosive's composition.
Rail Traffic Restored
Freight movement was briefly suspended to facilitate evidence collection and urgent repairs. Government Railway Police DSP Gurdeep Singh confirmed that rail traffic was restored within a few hours. He added that details regarding the type of explosive used remain confidential while the investigation is active.
Legal Action and Security
A case has been registered against unidentified persons under Section 150 of the Railways Act, which pertains to maliciously wrecking or attempting to wreck a train. Following the incident, security has been heightened at major railway hubs, including Ambala Cantonment, Rajpura, and Patiala, and intelligence agencies have been placed on high alert.
