A petrol bomb was allegedly hurled at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Punjab's Sangrur in the early hours of Monday, prompting a police investigation and a political row over the state's law and order situation.
The incident took place on Monday at 3 am when a bottle of burning petrol was reportedly hurled at the office. It crashed into the outer wall of the building and left the premises with burn marks. No one was injured.
Police reached the place of the incident upon receiving information and cordoned off the area. The Forensic team was called for the collection of evidence, and the bottle pieces were analysed. Police are now scanning the CCTV footage of the BJP office and nearby areas.
The officials are trying to determine if the suspect alone carried out the attack or was with more than one suspect. Speaking to reporters, Sangrur Superintendent of Police Divendra Attri said a detailed investigation was in progress.
"DSP, Sangrur SHO and I reached here. We are inspecting the spot. Petrol was filled in a beer bottle to convert it into a petrol bomb...We are lodging an FIR against the culprits, and we will take action against them...Culprits will be arrested soon," Attri said.
BJP Calls Attack Premeditated
The BJP claimed the attack was a pre-planned act and raised questions about the law and order under the Punjab government.
BJP leader Randeep Deol claimed that two individuals were involved in the incident. "Last night, two youths came near the office. They had already prepared a petrol bomb and hurled it at the office. Police reached the spot this morning and have begun their investigation. Earlier, a BJP office in Chandigarh was also attacked, and now a similar incident has taken place in Sangrur, raising questions over the Sangrur administration and the Punjab government," Deol said.
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Slamming the Punjab government led by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Punjab BJP chief Ravneet Singh Bittu stated that this incident reflected the poor law and order in the state.
In a post on X, Bittu said, "The petrol bomb attack on the BJP office in the Chief Minister's home district of Sangrur reveals the real picture of law and order in Punjab. Bhagwant Mann ji, is this your 'Rangla Punjab'? BJP workers will not be intimidated by these cowardly acts. Playing with the peace of Punjab will not be tolerated."
An FIR has been registered by police in this regard. Police said they were trying to identify and arrest people involved. Authorities continue the investigation and are relying on forensic evidence as well as CCTV footage to try and track down the suspect.