2 Arrested Over Blast Outside BJP Leader’s Jalandhar Home, Police Link Attack To ISI, Lawrence Bishnoi Gang

Two persons have been arrested in connection with a blast that took place outside the residence of senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar, Punjab. According to police, the explosion, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, was part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in collaboration with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti.

According to news agency ANI, Special DGP Arpit Shukla stated, “Two people have been arrested in this case and the auto-rickshaw which was used in this crime has also been confiscated. It was a major incident to disturb communal harmony. As per the initial investigation, this was a major conspiracy of Pakistan’s ISI. Zeeshan Akhtar, who is a close associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, was the mastermind of the case… Our teams are conducting raids at different locations so that the investigation in this case is finished as soon as possible. We are also in touch with the central agencies and a big operation has been launched.”

The blast damaged an aluminium partition, shattered glass windows of the house, and also caused damage to an SUV and a motorcycle parked in the courtyard. No injuries were reported in the incident, as per police officials, news agency ANI reported.

Kalia, a former Punjab Cabinet minister and ex-state BJP president, was present at home during the explosion. He described the incident as a “severe grenade blast”. He told reporters he was asleep when he heard a loud noise. “I initially thought there was a blast in the electric transformer due to overloading. My driver then informed me that it was a blast. I tried to call the police but no one picked up the phone. Then I sent my gunman to the police station,” Kalia said, as quoted by PTI.

The blast occurred near Shastri Market at around 1 am, with CCTV footage revealing that an e-rickshaw initially passed the house, returned later, and then the explosion occurred. Sparks and smoke can be seen in the footage, along with a dog fleeing the area. BJP Jalandhar district president Sushil Sharma confirmed that unidentified individuals threw a hand grenade from an e-rickshaw.

Union MoS Ravneet Singh, Punjab Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat Visit Manoranjan Kalia's House

Deputy Commissioner of Police Manpreet Singh said no one was injured in the incident. Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur told reporters, “We have checked the spot. Our forensic teams also investigated it. We will register an FIR and further investigate the incident.” She added, “We are examining the CCTV trail. We have secured nearby areas,” and mentioned that security had been increased at major public locations, including bus stands and railway stations.

Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu and Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma visited the site. Bittu alleged, “It appeared to be a well-planned conspiracy against a senior and Hindu leader… These are now happening in Punjab. Earlier, we heard about such incidents in Naxal areas or in Srinagar.”

Punjab Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat also visited Kalia’s residence and said the blast was the handiwork of miscreants who could not accept the state’s development. “The Punjab government will not allow disturbance of peace and harmony in the state,” he said. Aam Aadmi Party leader Pawan Kumar Tinu added, “An attempt was made to disturb peace and harmony in the state by some miscreants who are the enemies of Punjab and the country… They want to create terror in the minds of people with such incidents… The perpetrators of this crime will not be spared.”

BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal Demand Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's Resignation

Opposition parties launched scathing attacks on the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government over the incident. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh took to X, writing, “The grenade attack on the residence of senior BJP leader and former minister Manoranjan Kalia is a chilling reminder of the complete collapse of law and order in Punjab under CM Bhagwant Mann’s regime… This is not an isolated act of violence - it is part of a larger, dangerous conspiracy to destabilise Punjab, fuel communal unrest, and intimidate political voices… What’s worse is the shocking silence and inaction of the chief minister, who also holds the Home portfolio. His repeated failures to protect the lives, property, and dignity of Punjabis prove he is unfit to govern. @BhagwantMann must accept moral responsibility and resign immediately. Punjab deserves peace, not propaganda.”

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal also demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation. He wrote on X, “Lawlessness has crossed all bounds in Punjab. After attacks on police stations, places of worship & vandalism of statues of Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar, now the residence of a former minister & senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia has been subject to a grenade attack… All these incidents make it clear the @AamAadmiParty & Chief Minister @BhagwantMann are unable to come to grips with the situation. The CM must take moral responsibility for these incidents & resign immediately.”

Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA Partap Singh Bajwa also criticised the Chief Minister over the blast.

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