A blast was reported outside the residence of senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia in Punjab’s Jalandhar district during the early hours of Wednesday, triggering panic in the area. According to police, a loud explosion was heard around 1 am near Shastri Market, where Kalia’s residence is located. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Manpreet Singh confirmed that forensic teams had reached the spot and collected samples for analysis. “The forensic team is investigating the matter,” he told reporters. Police officials are also reviewing CCTV footage from the area to identify those involved.
Who is Manoranjan Kalia?
Manoranjan Kalia, a former Cabinet minister and ex-president of the Punjab BJP, was home at the time of the incident. Senior police officials, including Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur, visited the site to assess the situation.
“We have checked the area thoroughly and secured it,” Commissioner Kaur said. “An FIR will be registered, and we will proceed with a detailed investigation.” When asked whether the blast was caused by a hand grenade, Kaur said that samples had been collected but declined to confirm the nature of the explosive, adding that information would be shared as the investigation progresses.
Recent grenade attack incidents in Punjab
The blast follows a series of similar incidents reported in Punjab, including explosions near police posts in Amritsar and Gurdaspur in recent months. Last month, a blast occurred outside a temple in Amritsar, raising concerns about public safety and security in the region.
(With PTI inputs)