Blast near police post in Patiala: Probe underway for potential 'targeted attack'

Authorities are investigating the movement of a car or bike near villages adjoining Badshahpur police post in Patiala following a loud explosion that caused widespread panic in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The blast, heard over a significant distance, shattered windowpanes in a nearby cooperative society building. However, police have confirmed that the explosion did not occur inside the police post, and an investigation is underway.

While authorities maintain that the explosion was not caused by a grenade, they have yet to confirm whether it was a targeted attack on the police post.

According to locals, the explosion-like sound was heard around 2 am, prompting an immediate response from the police.

Senior officers revealed that they had received some clues about “suspected movement in the area” at the time of the blast, which has led to further scrutiny of the incident. However, no remnants pointing to a grenade attack were found at the scene.

“Initial investigations suggest that the police post officials initially thought the sound was from a sonic boom. It was only after villagers alerted authorities that the possibility of a blast emerged,” a police official involved in the probe stated.

Patiala SSP Nanak Singh stated that the investigation is being conducted from all angles. “We have formed dedicated teams to conduct a thorough investigation,” he added.

The incident has drawn political attention, with Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Partap Bajwa criticising the state government's handling of security.

“After the border belt of Punjab was shaken by the series of grenade attacks, now a blast took place at Badshahpur police post in Patiala district. @BhagwantMann, when would you take your job as Home Minister seriously? If you can't perform, why don't you simply quit?”, Bajwa wrote on X.