Punjab blasts trigger war of words: Mann blames BJP, saffron party hits back

Two back-to-back explosions occurred within a three-hour window on Tuesday night: the first around 8 PM outside the Border Security Force Punjab Frontier headquarters in Jalandhar, involving a parked Honda Activa scooter; the second at 11:15 PM in the Khasa cantonment area of Amritsar near the Wagah international check post, striking the boundary wall of sensitive military and BSF zones. No casualties were reported in the immediate blasts. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and central forensic teams launched a coordinated probe, with Punjab police detaining the Jalandhar scooter owner (an e-commerce delivery agent) and investigators examining links to the April 27 Rajpura blast. Suspects described as radicalised habitual criminals are believed to have ties to Pakistan’s ISI, and the Khalistan Liberation Army (KLA) claimed responsibility for the Jalandhar blast via an unverified social media post. The DGP Gaurav Yadav visited both sites and was expected to address the media after forensic review.

A low-intensity blast occurred near the Rajpura-Shambhu track in Patiala district. A suspected bomber was killed while reportedly attempting to plant the device.

A crude grenade was hurled at the Punjab BJP headquarters in Sector 37, Chandigarh. Five suspects linked to a Pakistan-ISI backed module were later arrested.

A low-intensity blast was reported on the track near the Sirhind railway station in Fatehgarh Sahib.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal urged the CM to resign citing intelligence failures; Opposition Leader Partap Singh Bajwa warned that political instability could harm the state's economy and public confidence; Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla called the Khasa blast a grave national-security concern exposing gaps in border district safety.

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar described the CM’s remarks as more worrying than the blasts, highlighted the disconnect with the DGP’s findings, and urged Mann to let police do their job rather than politicise security matters.

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu slammed CM Mann’s remarks, alleging the state government is hand-in-glove with anti-national forces and that the blasts reflect governance collapse and political stunts.

Punjab Police Chief Gaurav Yadav stated that initial probes suggest a cross-border terror module, orchestrated by ISI-backed handlers based in Europe (Portugal and Germany), behind the surge in activity. The police indicated foreign handlers use social media to radicalise locals and fund low-intensity blasts.

About three hours after the Jalandhar blast, in Amritsar’s Khasa area, two motorcycle-borne individuals allegedly hurled a grenade at the boundary wall of an army camp, causing a tin shed to collapse. No casualties were reported.

Around 8pm on May 5, 2026, an improvised explosive device left on a parked scooter exploded near the Border Security Force Punjab Frontier Headquarters in Jalandhar, shattering windows and damaging a traffic signal.