Two blasts rock Punjab in one day; NIA team deployed, Opposition slams AAP govt
Synopsis
Two blast-like incidents near BSF and Army installations in Punjab within three hours on Wednesday have reignited fears about the state's security. With the NIA now deployed and the Opposition pointing to over two dozen blasts under the AAP regime, the pressure on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann — who also holds the Home portfolio — is intensifying.
Key Takeaways
Two blast-like incidents occurred in Punjab within three hours on Wednesday — in Jalandhar and Amritsar .
Both incidents were near BSF and Army installations ; no casualties have been reported.
An NIA team has been deployed to both cities to assist local police.
SAD President Sukhbir Badal said this is the third blast in ten days , referencing a 27 April explosion near the Rajpura rail track .
Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa and SAD's Bikram Singh Majithia demanded accountability and called for a thorough investigation.
Two back-to-back blast-like incidents rocked Punjab within three hours on Wednesday — one near the Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters in Jalandhar and another near the Khasa cantonment area in Amritsar — triggering widespread panic and sharp political criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. No casualties have been reported so far, according to officials.
Sources confirmed that a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is heading to both Jalandhar and Amritsar to gather information and assist local police in their investigation.
What Happened on the Ground
The first incident occurred in Jalandhar, where a scooter parked outside the BSF (Punjab Frontier) headquarters caught fire, with locals claiming they heard a loud blast-like sound. Hours later, at around 10:50 pm, a suspected explosion was reported near the Khasa cantonment area in Amritsar, with residents saying the blast was powerful enough to shake the walls of nearby houses.
Both incidents occurred near BSF establishments and Army or paramilitary installations in the sensitive Indo-Pakistan border state, raising serious security concerns.
Third Blast in Ten Days
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal noted that this marks the third blast in ten days in Punjab, with a previous explosion reported on 27 April near the Rajpura rail track. Badal wrote on X:
Point of View
With officials initially describing the Jalandhar incident as a 'scooty fire', has compounded the credibility problem. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann holding dual charge of the Home portfolio means accountability is concentrated at the top. Opposition claims of over two dozen blasts under this regime, if verified, point to a systemic intelligence coordination gap that no amount of PR management can paper over. Punjab's geography makes it uniquely vulnerable, and the NIA's deployment signals that the Centre, too, is treating this as more than a local policing matter.
NationPress
7 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Punjab blasts on Wednesday?
Two blast-like incidents occurred within three hours in Punjab on Wednesday — one near the BSF headquarters in Jalandhar and another near the Khasa cantonment area in Amritsar. No casualties have been reported, and an NIA team has been deployed to both cities.
Who is investigating the Punjab blasts?
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sent a team to both Jalandhar and Amritsar to gather information and assist local police. State police are also conducting parallel investigations.
How many blasts have occurred in Punjab recently?
According to SAD President Sukhbir Badal, there have been three blasts in ten days, including a previous explosion near the Rajpura rail track on 27 April. Badal also claimed that over two dozen blasts have occurred under the AAP government's tenure.
What has the Opposition said about the Punjab blasts?
SAD President Sukhbir Badal accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of intelligence failures and called for his resignation. SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia alleged a cover-up, citing CCTV footage. Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa urged the government to prioritise law and order and restore public confidence.
Why are the Punjab blasts considered especially serious?
Both incidents occurred near BSF and Army installations in Punjab, a sensitive border state adjoining Pakistan. Opposition leaders argue that targeting security installations signals a dangerous breakdown in intelligence coordination and border security.
