Punjab: Two separate explosions occurred near Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters in Jalandhar and Amritsar on Tuesday night, three hours apart. The first incident occurred in Jalandhar at approximately 8:15 PM, where a scooter exploded outside the BSF headquarters. The blast was heard up to a kilometre and a half away.
While no casualties have been reported, one person was injured. Police have detained the scooter driver for questioning. Following the incident, the area has been sealed for further investigation. A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has left for Jalandhar to gather more information about the incident and assist the Punjab Police in the investigation.
Blast Near BSF Headquarters In Amritsar
Another loud explosion was reported outside the BSF headquarters in the Khasa area near the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar, at around 10:50 PM on Tuesday. According to a report by Jagran.com, citing SSP Sohail Mir Qasim, two masked men on a motorcycle lobbed an explosive device toward the facility. The device exploded as it struck a wall.
The explosion caused the tin sheds erected on the boundary wall to cover the army area to collapse, while the wall between Gate Nos. 6 and 7 sustained minor damage. Following the incident, military and police officials arrived at the scene and launched an investigation. It is suspected that the attack was carried out with a grenade.
Scooter Blast Outside BSF Headquarters In Jalandhar
The parked scooter that caught fire near BSF Chowk in Punjab's Jalandhar district has been identified as belonging to Gurpreet Singh, a resident of the Gadha area and an employee of Flipkart. According to reports, Singh came to deliver a parcel to the BSF headquarters on Tuesday but was not allowed entry because he was not wearing a helmet. He parked the scooter about 50 feet away from the BSF headquarters and went inside the facility. At that moment, a powerful explosion occurred.
The vehicle is registered to his father, Kashmira Singh, a retired BSF employee. The blast occurred during peak hours at a nearby crowded vegetable market, triggering a panic as bystanders fled for safety.
Eyewitnesses said that a young man on a bike threw an object near the Activa shortly before the blast. CCTV footage of the explosion also shows a young man.
Investigation Underway
Investigators suspect that the scooter may have contained explosive material. However, there is no official confirmation. An investigation is currently underway to determine whether the incident was an explosion or a technical fault.
(With Inputs From Jagran.com)