The Punjab Police has nabbed two persons after a grenade attack at BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia's house in Punjab's Jalandhar. The police said the attack was orchestrated by Zeeshan Akhtar, who is a close associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

The police stated that Pakistan's ISI has been involved in a bid to disturb religious harmony in Punjab and that the attack on the BJP leader was planned from across the border.

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"Two people have been arrested in this case and the auto-rickshaw which was used in this crime has also been confiscated. It was a major incident to disturb communal harmony. As per the initial investigation, this was a major conspiracy of Pakistan's ISI. Zeeshan Akhtar, who is a close associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, was the mastermind of the case... Our teams are conducting raids at different locations so that the investigation in this case is finished as soon as possible. We are also in touch with the central agencies and a big operation has been launched," Special DGP Arpit Shukla said. 

DGP Shukla also said they were probing the links of the attack with terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). He said the police solved the case within 12 hours of its occurrence.

Reacting over the attack, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said the incident was a well-thought conspiracy to create unrest in the state. Jakhar also expressed concern over frequent blasts in the state, urging the Bhagwant Mann-led government to ensure law and order. 

Union minister and former Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu reached Manoranjan Kalia's residence to inquire about his well-being. Bittu said the BJP will stage protests across all mandals by burning effigies of the Punjab government in response to the attack.

Manoranjan Kalia said a loud sound was heard at around 1 am while he was sleeping. He said he initially thought it was a sound of thunder but later discovered it was a grenade attack. He immediately informed the police about the incident.

CCTV footage of the explosion shows an assailant arriving on an e-rickshaw, allegedly throwing a grenade before fleeing the scene.

The Punjab government had shifted ADGP Intelligence R K Jaiswal last evening without giving him a new posting.

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Kalia is a former Cabinet minister and former president of Punjab BJP. He is also a member of the BJP's national executive.