Twin blasts in Punjab spark alarm; CCTV captures explosion near BSF HQ in Jalandhar

Panic gripped parts of Punjab late Tuesday after two explosions occurred within hours in Jalandhar and Amritsar, prompting heightened security measures and a multi-agency investigation.

The first blast took place around 8 p.m. near the Border Security Force (BSF) Punjab Frontier headquarters in Jalandhar. According to officials, the explosion originated from a scooter parked close to the BSF Chowk area, injuring its owner.

The injured man, identified as Gurpreet Singh, who works with a courier company, sustained injuries and was taken for treatment. Police said he is being questioned as part of the investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the blast.

CCTV footage from the area, now circulating online, shows the scooter parked moments before a sudden explosion lights up the vicinity, sending bystanders scrambling for safety. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device or a mechanical failure, with forensic teams examining the site.

Within hours, a second explosion was reported near the Khasa cantonment area in Amritsar late Tuesday night. Police said the blast occurred along the boundary wall outside an Army installation located opposite the BSF’s Khasa camp on the Attari Road, a strategically sensitive stretch close to the India-Pakistan border.

The impact of the explosion was felt across nearby areas, triggering panic among residents and leading to the swift deployment of police and security forces. However, officials confirmed that no casualties or injuries were reported in the Amritsar incident.

Forensic experts have collected samples from both locations, and investigations are underway to determine whether the two incidents are linked. Security agencies are also reviewing CCTV footage and intelligence inputs, particularly given Punjab’s history of cross-border smuggling of explosives and the occasional recovery of arms and drones along the international border.

Senior officials said the state has been placed on high alert, with intensified checking at key installations, border areas and urban centers. Additional forces have been deployed in sensitive zones, and surveillance has been increased.

Reacting to the incidents, Punjab Congress chief and Lok Sabha MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring questioned both the state and central governments over the security situation.

“Back-to-back blasts have shaken Punjab. Yesterday in Jalandhar, and now near Khasa Camp in Amritsar — this is deeply alarming. Who is trying to destabilise our state? Why has the Punjab Government failed to prevent such incidents? What is the Government of India doing?” he said.

“Repeated lapses point to a serious breakdown of intelligence and security. Punjab’s peace cannot be compromised. We demand accountability and immediate action,” he added.

Officials maintained that conclusions about the nature and motive behind the explosions will only be drawn after detailed forensic analysis, even as security agencies continue to probe all possible angles, including sabotage and external involvement.