The first explosion occurred at approximately 8:00 p.m. local time (1430 GMT) outside the Border Security Force complex in Jalandhar. According to reports from the Press Trust of India, a security camera captured the moment of the blast, showing a sudden burst of smoke and a man running for safety. The explosion destroyed a parked scooter, damaged nearby shops, and affected a traffic signal installation.
Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur later confirmed that a scooter parked near the facility gate suddenly caught fire. The individual seen fleeing the scene reportedly witnessed the vehicle igniting and subsequently informed his father. Authorities have stated that he is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
Initial media reports, citing a senior Punjab Police official, indicated that the Khalistan Liberation Army had claimed responsibility for the Jalandhar explosion. The group is an armed separatist organization active in Punjab, with alleged support networks abroad, including Canada and Pakistan. It is designated as a terrorist organization by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs. However, officials have emphasized that it remains too early to determine whether the explosion resulted from an accidental fire or a deliberate act, and all possibilities are under investigation.
Just hours later, a second incident was reported in Amritsar, where a loud blast was heard outside an army camp. Senior Rural Superintendent of Police Suhail Qasim Mir stated that fragments resembling metal sheets were discovered embedded in the boundary wall at the site of the explosion. He further noted that the damage pattern suggests that an explosive device may have been thrown toward the wall, triggering the blast.
Authorities have not confirmed any operational link between the two incidents. The twin explosions come shortly after another suspected extremist-related incident on April 27, when an individual died during an attempted explosion on a freight rail corridor in Patiala. Following that case, police arrested four individuals allegedly connected to a Pakistan-linked separatist network.
Political reactions have intensified in the aftermath of the blasts. Opposition leader Sukhbir Singh Badal criticized the state leadership, alleging a collapse in law and order. In a statement posted on social media platform X, he said: “Three blasts in 10 days, two in a single day,” adding that continued intelligence failures were a matter of grave concern.
The renewed incidents have also revived historical sensitivities in Punjab. The movement advocating for an independent Sikh homeland, commonly referred to as Khalistan, was linked to decades of violence during the 1980s and 1990s, which resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. The latest explosions and references to separatist groups have reignited concerns over a potential resurgence of extremist activity in the region.
Authorities continue to investigate both incidents as security remains heightened across sensitive installations in the state.
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