Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the state’s top police officer presented sharply different explanations on Wednesday following twin explosions near Border Security Force installations in Punjab, with Mann alleging political involvement by the BJP while the Director General of Police claimed the blasts were part of a Pakistan-backed conspiracy aimed at disturbing peace in the border state. The contrasting statements emerged as Punjab Police and central agencies intensified their investigation into the incidents and heightened security measures across sensitive areas of the state.
The controversy began after two separate explosions were reported near BSF-linked locations in Jalandhar and Amritsar on Tuesday night. One blast occurred close to the BSF headquarters in Jalandhar, while another later took place outside an Army camp in Amritsar’s Khasa area near BSF installations. Though no casualties were reported in either incident, the explosions triggered panic and immediately raised concerns over security in Punjab, particularly due to the state’s sensitive border location.
While addressing the issue, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann alleged that such incidents tend to occur in regions where the BJP intends to politically expand. He claimed the blasts were connected to the party’s preparations for Punjab and urged the BJP to “stop such acts.” Mann’s comments referred to a social media post shared earlier by the BJP’s Punjab unit that read “Next Punjab” shortly before the party’s major victory in West Bengal. According to Mann, the timing of the post and the subsequent incidents raised suspicions regarding a larger political strategy.
Mann’s remarks quickly drew criticism from opposition parties as well as the BJP itself. BJP leader Ashwani Sharma strongly attacked the Chief Minister and accused him of indulging in irresponsible politics instead of focusing on law and order in the border state. Sharma alleged that Punjab’s security situation had deteriorated under the current government and stated that Mann should resign rather than making politically charged allegations against the BJP.
Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also criticised Mann’s comments and described the attempt to blame the BJP as “amateurish politics.” The reactions highlighted growing political tensions in Punjab as parties exchanged accusations while investigations into the blasts continued.
In contrast to the Chief Minister’s allegations, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav claimed the incidents appeared linked to cross-border efforts aimed at destabilising Punjab. According to the DGP, certain elements operating at the behest of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI, were attempting to create a false narrative suggesting that Punjab was disturbed and unsafe. He stated that preliminary findings indicated the explosions were caused by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Gaurav Yadav said claims reportedly made in the name of the Khalistan Liberation Army were also being verified as part of the investigation. According to him, both the Jalandhar and Amritsar explosions appeared to involve IEDs, which may have been either timed or wired devices. He further alleged that Pakistan’s ISI was attempting to exploit isolated incidents to project instability in Punjab and spread fear within the state.
The first explosion took place near the BSF headquarters at BSF Chowk in Jalandhar, where a parked scooter reportedly exploded in a busy locality. Eyewitnesses stated that the scooter caught fire immediately after the blast, causing panic among nearby residents and commuters who rushed away from the area in fear. Authorities later recovered fragments and debris scattered across the road as part of the forensic investigation.
A few hours later, a second explosion occurred outside an Army camp in the Khasa area of Amritsar, which is located close to BSF installations and around 15 kilometres from the Attari-Wagah international border. Preliminary suspicion suggested that a motorcycle-borne individual may have hurled a grenade at the location before escaping. Officials said the exact sequence of events is still being verified.
Amritsar Rural Police Superintendent Aditya Warrier stated that the blast in Khasa occurred between 10:30 pm and 11 pm. He confirmed that police personnel and Army teams immediately reached the location after the incident. According to him, forensic experts are currently examining the blast site while investigators continue reviewing all possible angles related to the case.
CCTV footage from the Jalandhar incident accessed by India Today reportedly captured the moment of the explosion, showing flames erupting instantly while debris scattered across the road. A man standing near the scooter was seen running away immediately after the blast occurred. Officials suspect some of the fragments recovered from the scene may have belonged to the scooter itself.
Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur urged caution and stated that it was too early to arrive at any final conclusion regarding the nature of the blast. She said investigators were still verifying facts on the ground and examining all available evidence. According to her, both the scooter driver and another individual connected to the case were being questioned by investigators.
Police officials in both Jalandhar and Amritsar stated that forensic teams, intelligence agencies and security personnel are continuing their investigations while analysing CCTV footage and gathering evidence from both sites. Authorities have also strengthened security deployment across Punjab as the probe into the twin blasts continues.
