Sources said that a probe is underway to investigate possible links to Pakistan-based handlers and banned terror outfits operating through local criminal networks
Explosion reported outside BSF HQ in Jalandhar
Security agencies have confirmed that the explosion which set a scooter on fire near BSF Chowk here was the result of a grenade attack, top intelligence sources said on Tuesday.
They told CNN-News18 that a probe is underway to investigate possible links to Pakistan-based handlers and banned terror outfits operating through local criminal networks.
The blast occurred on Tuesday morning when an Activa scooter suddenly exploded and caught fire, triggering panic in the busy area.
Police and fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and brought the flames under control. No injuries or casualties were reported, officials said.
What initially appeared to be a vehicle-related explosion is now being treated as a targeted attack, sources said, adding that preliminary inputs point to a pattern seen in recent incidents aimed at security and political institutions in Punjab.
According to intelligence agencies, investigators are examining the role of Pakistan-based operatives and extremist modules, including Babbar Khalsa International, allegedly working in coordination with local gangsters.
The incident is being viewed as part of a broader attempt to destabilise the state, sources said.
The attack comes amid a spate of similar incidents in the region, including recent attacks on offices linked to political and ideological organisations. Punjab has witnessed more than 20 grenade attacks since 2024, many of them in border districts and major cities such as Jalandhar and Amritsar.
Most of these attacks have targeted police establishments, security installations and political offices.
Police said CCTV footage from the area is being scrutinised and forensic teams have collected evidence from the blast site. Punjab Police have made some detentions in connection with the case, officials said, without disclosing further details.
Investigations by the police and central agencies, including the NIA, in earlier cases have revealed a recurring pattern in which local operatives were arrested while their handlers were traced to locations in Pakistan and parts of Europe, officials said.
Security has been stepped up across sensitive locations in the state as investigations continue.
Punjab, India, India
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