AI Generated Summary
- CCTV footage captured the attackers, one of whom was seen holding a helmet while the other filmed the act on a mobile phone before they fled the scene.
- In a social media statement, Sukhjinder Singh Babbar asserted that the blast was in retaliation for alleged violence against Sikh youth, specifically referencing the recent killing of 19-year-old Ranjit Singh in Gurdaspur.
- Chandigarh Police Superintendent Kanwardeep Kaur described the incident as a “low-intensity explosion” and confirmed that a joint investigation with Punjab Police is underway.
A low-intensity explosion rocked the area outside the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in Sector 37, Chandigarh, on Wednesday evening, triggering panic but causing no casualties.
The blast occurred around 5:00 PM when two unidentified men on a two-wheeler hurled a Chinese-made hand grenade (reportedly a P86 model) towards the office premises. The device exploded in the parking area, damaging a scooter and a sedan car parked nearby. CCTV footage captured the attackers, one of whom was seen holding a helmet while the other filmed the act on a mobile phone before they fled the scene.
The proscribed separatist outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) quickly claimed responsibility for the attack. In a social media statement, Sukhjinder Singh Babbar asserted that the blast was in retaliation for alleged violence against Sikh youth, specifically referencing the recent killing of 19-year-old Ranjit Singh in Gurdaspur. Police have not yet officially verified the claim.
Chandigarh Police Superintendent Kanwardeep Kaur described the incident as a “low-intensity explosion” and confirmed that a joint investigation with Punjab Police is underway. A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also reached the spot, along with bomb detection squads and forensic experts from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory. Authorities are examining the viral video and CCTV footage to identify the suspects.
Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly attempt to disturb communal harmony” in the region.
Security has been tightened across Chandigarh and Punjab, with heightened vigil at political offices and sensitive locations. This incident comes amid recent reports of increased activity by pro-Khalistan groups targeting urban areas.
Investigations are ongoing to determine if the attack had any external support, including possible links to handlers across the border. Further updates are awaited as forensic analysis continues.
