In a Twitter post, Mr Singh asked Punjab police to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Ludhiana: Two people have died and four others were left seriously injured in a blast inside a court in Punjab’s Ludhiana. Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi said that the blast was carried to disrupt law and order in the city ahead of assembly polls.
Here are the top 10 updates on this big story:
- The blast is reported to have taken place around 12:22 pm in a bathroom on the second floor of the building. The intensity of the blast was such that it damaged the walls of the bathroom and shattered glass panes of nearby rooms. The district court was functioning when the explosion took place.
- Ludhiana Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the area has been sealed and forensic teams will collect samples from the blast site. “An explosion was heard near the Record Room on the second floor of the Ludhiana Court complex. A bomb disposal team and forensics team have been called from Chandigarh for a probe. There is no need to panic,” Mr Bhullar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
- Replying to a question on preliminary investigations, Mr Bhullar said at this point, it is very difficult to say anything, and added that investigation was underway.
- Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said he will visit Ludhiana to take stock of the situation. “I am going to Ludhiana. 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,” he said.
- Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was among the first prominent leaders to react to the incident. In a Twitter post, Mr Singh asked Punjab police to investigate the matter thoroughly.
- “Disturbing news of a blast at Ludhiana court complex. Saddened to know about the demise of 2 individuals, Praying for the recovery of those injured. @PunjabPoliceInd must get to the bottom of this,” he tweeted.
- As the Chief Minister, Mr Singh had expressed concerns about the threat to the state from Pakistan-backed terror forces and had sought 25 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and anti-drone gadgets for the Border Security Force (BSF) for protection.
- Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief, Arvind Kejriwal, whose party is looking to gain ground in the state, blamed “some people” for creating law and order problems ahead of the assembly polls. “Cruelty first, blast now. Some people want to disturb the peace of Punjab. 3 crore people of Punjab will not allow their plans to succeed. we have to hold each other’s hands. Sad to hear the news, my condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery to all the injured,” he tweeted.
- Police have cordoned off the area and rescue operations are going on. A two-member team from the National Investigation Agency or NIA has left Chandigarh and is expected to reach the court shortly.
- The district court is located near the District Commissioner’s office in the heart of Ludhiana city.
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