Forensic and bomb disposal squad officials have found that high-grade explosives had been used in the Ludhiana court explosion, which killed one person and injured another six
Police inspect the site of an explosion at the District Court complex, in Ludhiana. PTI
A bomb went off in Ludhiana’s district court complex on Thursday, killing one person and injuring six others, prompting the Punjab government to declare a high alert in the state.
Shortly after the blast, forensic teams and specialised agencies descended on the scene to examine the site.
The Union Home Ministry has sought a detailed report from the state government as early as possible. It also wanted to be informed about the findings of the initial investigations.
Here’s what we know so far of the explosion:
Court scenes
The blast wrecked a wall of the bathroom, leaving a pile of rubble. Windowpanes in adjoining rooms and windscreens of some cars parked below were smashed.
Police suspect that the man killed in the blast in the second-floor toilet was trying to assemble or plant the explosive device.
According to local MLA Balwinder Singh Bains, who was on the third floor of the court premises when the blast took place, some people thought a cooking gas cylinder had burst, while some said it was a blast.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who is also the state’s home minister said that a DNA test will be conducted on the unidentified man found dead at the blast site.
Ludhiana Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the area has been sealed and forensic teams will collect samples from the site.
According to an IndiaToday report, the forensic team and the Bomb Detection & Disposal Squad has quoted that a “fairly good quantity of high-grade explosives had been used” in the Ludhiana court blast on Thursday.
Speaking on the deceased man, who was found on the second-floor toilet, a source was cited as saying that he was aged between 30 and 35 and the only distinguishing feature that could be spotted was a tattoo.
Babbar Khalsa behind Ludhiana court blast?
Even as investigations are on, News18 has reported that international terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa is responsible for the blast.
The report citing top intelligence sources said that the outfit’s chief Wadhawa Singh executed the attack with the help of local gangster Harvinder Singh (aka Rinda Singh).
Intelligence agencies suggest that the group might carry out more such attacks in Punjab in the run-up to the Assembly elections, scheduled to take place early next year.
What leaders said
Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said as the Assembly polls are drawing near, some anti-national forces are trying to spread anarchy in the state.
“Our police are capable of maintaining law and order,” he said. “But which agencies which are trying to disturb Punjab’s peace will become clear as investigations are on.”