The police received information about the explosion at the Khasa Cantonment in Amritsar at 10:50 PM. An explosive device had been detonated against the perimeter wall of the cantonment. DGP Gaurav Yadav stated that splinters were recovered from the scene, but no wires or similar components were found. Consequently, the police surmise that this was an IED triggered either by a timer or via remote control. Mr. Yadav spoke to the media after returning from Amritsar earlier today, where he had visited and inspected the blast site.
Two hours prior to the incident in Amritsar, the police had received a report regarding an explosion accompanied by a fire in a scooter parked outside the BSF Headquarters in Jalandhar. The scooter belongs to a young man named Gurmeet Singh, who works as a courier. He sustained minor injuries in the incident. DGP Yadav stated that an organization named the ‘Khalistan Liberation Army’ has claimed responsibility for this incident; however, the reality is that no such organization exists. Gaurav Yadav asserted that the Pakistani intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been behind such incidents.
The Director General of Police, Punjab, remarked that Pakistan likely orchestrated such an act to coincide with the anniversary of ‘Operation Sindoor.’ He noted that, as a border state, Punjab frequently encounters such situations and is fully prepared to handle them effectively. Describing the law and order situation in the state as vigilant, he asserted that the atmosphere of peace and order here is better to that of any other state in the country. He added that such incidents are orchestrated in an attempt to tarnish Punjab’s image and generate negative publicity. He affirmed that the police have exposed similar conspiracies in the past and will now conduct a meticulous investigation into every aspect of this incident to apprehend the culprits.
Political rhetoric surrounding the blast:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre attempts to create an atmosphere of fear. He contended that this is the BJP’s modus operandi: wherever they intend to contest elections, they first sow unrest—sometimes by instigating riots, at other times through bombings, or by dividing the populace. He stated that this constitutes the BJP’s strategy for Punjab, but the situation will be effectively dealt with. He further vowed that the culprits would not be spared.
Meanwhile, opposition political parties—the Congress and the BJP—expressed concern over these incidents, terming them a security lapse. They urged the government to implement stringent measures to instill confidence among the general public. Bikram Singh Majithia, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, expressed deep concern regarding the incident and alleged that the government’s act of drawing conclusions without a proper investigation amounts to an attempt to cover up the matter.
