Punjab on Edge After Late-Night Explosion Near Sensitive Military Zone

A late-night explosion near the Khasa cantonment area in Amritsar on Tuesday prompted an immediate and coordinated response from police and security agencies. The incident occurred around 10:50 pm, raising concerns due to its proximity to a sensitive military zone.

Senior officials, along with army personnel stationed in the cantonment, rushed to the site soon after the police received information about the blast. Authorities moved quickly to secure the area and assess the situation.

The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) conducted a detailed sweep of the location, while the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team collected samples and evidence for analysis. Officials are now working to determine the exact nature and cause of the explosion.

Amritsar SP Aditya S. Warrier said, “At around 10.50 pm, the police received a complaint about a sound of a blast near Khassa cantonment... The police team reached the spot along with the senior officials of the army residing in the cantonment. The BDS team was also called, which conducted a check there. The FSL team gathered the evidence, and it has been sent for sampling and testing. We are checking how many blasts have occurred and how.”

Preliminary investigations remain ongoing, with authorities yet to confirm the source or intent behind the blast.

Jalandhar Scooter Fire Adds to Concerns

In a separate incident the same day, a scooter caught fire near BSF Chowk in Jalandhar. Local authorities responded swiftly, and no injuries were reported. While seemingly unrelated, the incident added to the atmosphere of unease across the state.

Spotlight on political reactions

The incidents triggered sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who questioned the state government’s handling of law and order.

Shiromani Akali Dal General Secretary Bikram Singh Majithia termed the Amritsar blast a serious issue, alleging administrative failure. He raised concerns about the speed of preliminary conclusions and suggested a possible attempt to downplay the situation.

“Just connect the dots... Just like grenade attacks are often downplayed as tyre bursts, here too the claim of a scooty blast suggests the start of a cover-up operation. Was the Commissioner able to complete the investigation so quickly? Has the forensic team already submitted its report? The cover-up seems to have begun the moment the blast occurred,” he wrote on X.

Punjab BJP General Secretary Parminder Singh Brar also criticized the state government, linking the Jalandhar incident to a broader decline in public safety.

“Blast near BSF HQ in Jalandhar is a chilling reminder of the collapsing law & order in Punjab. A delivery scooter explosion in a crowded area shows how dangerously unsafe public spaces have become. The Aam Aadmi Party Punjab government must be held accountable; governance cannot be replaced by optics and theatrics. Punjab cannot afford this failure. People deserve security, not excuses,” he wrote on X.

Congress leader and MLA Partap Singh Bajwa echoed similar concerns, urging proactive governance.

“The explosion in Jalandhar is deeply alarming. Incidents like these point to serious lapses in safety and vigilance. The government must stop reacting after the fact and start taking proactive, visible steps to secure lives and restore public confidence. Wish a speedy recovery to the injured BSF jawan,” he said.

Recent Incident Raises Further Questions

The developments come close on the heels of another explosion attempt on April 27 in Patiala’s Rajpura area, where a blast occurred on a railway track. The individual responsible died in the incident, though no other casualties or property damage were reported.

With multiple incidents occurring within a short span, security agencies remain on high alert as investigations continue.

(With inputs from ANI)