Explosion outside BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s Jalandhar home; probe on

An explosion was reported outside the residence of BJP Leader Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar, Punjab, on Tuesday, April 8. The police have opened an inquiry and are examining CCTV footage to ascertain the nature of the explosion.

Kalia, who was inside the residence then, was unharmed, news agency ANI reported. According to police, the suspected explosive device landed in front of the former Punjab minister’s gate at approximately one in the morning.

Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur confirmed the incident and said they received word of the explosion around 1 am near Shastri Market, where Kalia’s residence is located.
Officer Kaur added that the “forensic team is investigating the matter” and “also monitoring the CCTV.”

“The forensic team is investigating whether it is a grenade attack or something else…” Kaur said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Manpreet Singh confirmed the “incident occurred at the residence of Manoranjan Kalia.”

He added that the “forensic team will inspect the site and submit a report.”

Speaking about the incident, Kalia said the explosion woke him up and that he initially thought it was a transformer blast.

“There was a blast at around 1 am. I was asleep and thought it was thunder,” Kalia told ANI.

Later, he was informed that a blast had occurred. “I then sent my gunman to the police station. CCTV footage is being examined, and forensic experts are also present.” Kalia said.

According to police-obtained CCTV footage, a person arrived in an e-rickshaw, threw an unknown object close to Kalia’s residence, and drove away in the same vehicle.

Authorities are analysing the footage and examining the location to identify the perpetrator and ascertain the type of explosive used.

The explosion comes after a string of similar occurrences in and around Punjab, including recent months-long explosions close to police stations in Amritsar and Gurdaspur. A bomb outside an Amritsar shrine last month sparked concerns about local security and public safety.

Authorities reported an explosion outside an Amritsar shrine in March. Two bike-borne individuals were seen arriving at the Thakur Dwar shrine in CCTV footage.

Following a blast at the Thakurdwara Temple in Khandwala, Amritsar, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that several attempts were made to disrupt the state’s tranquillity.