Ludhiana (Punjab): A criminal case under IPC sections 307 and 302 has been registered against an unknown person in connection with the blast that took place at the Ludhiana court complex Thursday afternoon. The case has been registered on the statement of ASI Sukhpal Singh, in-charge of the court complex outpost. In addition, a team of National Security Guard (NSG) has reached the explosion site to probe the matter.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also sought a detailed report from the Punjab government over the bomb blast. At least one person was killed in the blast while several others were injured.
The person killed, as per the initial investigation by police, is the prime suspect in the blast that occurred in the Ludhiana District Court premises at around 12:15 pm.
Ludhiana police commissioner, Gurpreet Bhullar said the blast occurred near the toilet on the second floor of the court building. The incident might be a case of human bomb as, according to Bhullar, the body of one prime suspect was found close to the spot.
"He was either carrying the bomb or was very close to it," the top police officer said adding they were "police are trying to identify the deceased person."
One of the eye-witnesses of the blast confirmed that the device was reportedly planted in the bathroom of the court premises.
He also said that the sensors and other fire-protection facilities at the court are not functional.
The security around the court has been beefed up and police have cordoned off and cleared the area. The movement of the people inside the court has also been temporarily suspended.
A two-member team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached the blast site. Sources said that NIA was likely to take over the case.
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said, "Some anti-national elements are doing such acts as Assembly elections are nearing. The government is on alert. Those found guilty will not be spared."
Terming the bomb blast incident as "most shocking and dastardly act", Channi said that "forces inimical to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state would never succeed in their nefarious designs with a sole motive to destabilize the state."
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Terming the Ludhiana bomb blast incident as the most shocking and dastardly act, Chief Minister @CharanjitChanni says that forces inimical to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state would never succeed in their nefarious designs with a sole motive to destabilize the state.
— CMO Punjab (@CMOPb) December 23, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Terming the Ludhiana bomb blast incident as the most shocking and dastardly act, Chief Minister @CharanjitChanni says that forces inimical to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state would never succeed in their nefarious designs with a sole motive to destabilize the state.
— CMO Punjab (@CMOPb) December 23, 2021Terming the Ludhiana bomb blast incident as the most shocking and dastardly act, Chief Minister @CharanjitChanni says that forces inimical to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state would never succeed in their nefarious designs with a sole motive to destabilize the state.
— CMO Punjab (@CMOPb) December 23, 2021
The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has also written to the DGP asking that an SIT of three IPS officers be formed to investigate the Ludhiana bomb blast under the supervision of a retired judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court.
"...it becomes imperative that the matter be investigated by top echelons of justice delivery mechanism of the state so that justice is not only done but also seem and perceived to be done," the letter reads.
Meanwhile, reacting to the incident, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said "some people wanted to disturb peace in Punjab" which people of Punjab will not allow.
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पहले बेअदबी, अब ब्लास्ट। कुछ लोग पंजाब की शांति भंग करना चाहते हैं। पंजाब के 3 करोड़ लोग इनके मंसूबों को कामयाब नहीं होने देंगे। हमें एक दूसरे का हाथ पकड़ कर रखना है
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 23, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
ख़बर सुनकर दुख हुआ, मृतकों के परिवार के साथ मेरी संवेदनाएँ एवं सभी घायलों के जल्द स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूँ
">पहले बेअदबी, अब ब्लास्ट। कुछ लोग पंजाब की शांति भंग करना चाहते हैं। पंजाब के 3 करोड़ लोग इनके मंसूबों को कामयाब नहीं होने देंगे। हमें एक दूसरे का हाथ पकड़ कर रखना है
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 23, 2021
ख़बर सुनकर दुख हुआ, मृतकों के परिवार के साथ मेरी संवेदनाएँ एवं सभी घायलों के जल्द स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूँपहले बेअदबी, अब ब्लास्ट। कुछ लोग पंजाब की शांति भंग करना चाहते हैं। पंजाब के 3 करोड़ लोग इनके मंसूबों को कामयाब नहीं होने देंगे। हमें एक दूसरे का हाथ पकड़ कर रखना है
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 23, 2021
ख़बर सुनकर दुख हुआ, मृतकों के परिवार के साथ मेरी संवेदनाएँ एवं सभी घायलों के जल्द स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूँ
Punjab Congress chief Singh Sidhu alleged there was "a link between the sacrilege attempts and the bomb blast, intended to create polarisation of a specific community".
"Punjab is united in this hour of grief," he said.
Thursday's bomb blast took place amid incidents of alleged sacrilege, lynching, and a political hullaballoo in the state ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections.
