Ludhiana: A blast inside the district court complex here on Thursday left one person dead and three injured, police said.
The blast that took place in the wash room of the second floor of the court complex was so powerful that one of the walls in the complex got damaged and windows of some vehicles parked in the premises were shattered.
The district court was functioning when the blast took place.
Earlier, the police claimed that two people died in the blast but later on said one person had died.
Condemning the blast, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said some anti-national and anti-state forces were trying to commit such disgusting acts ahead of the assembly elections in the state.
Talking to reporters in Chandigarh, Channi said he will visit Ludhiana to take stock of the situation.
“As (assembly) elections are coming near, some anti-national and anti-state forces are trying to commit such disgusting acts and for this the government is alert and the people should also be alert,” he said, adding the culprits will not be spared.
Ludhiana Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the area has been sealed and forensic teams will collect samples from the blast site.
Replying to a question on preliminary investigations, Bhullar said at this point, it is very difficult to say anything, and added that investigation was underway.
Former Punjab Chief Mnister Amarinder Singh said he was saddened to know about the deaths in the blast.
“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,” said Singh in a tweet.
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal expressed shock over the blast.
“Shocked by news of blast at Ludhiana dist court where 2 people lost their lives & several injured. May Guru Sahib grant peace to departed souls & fast recovery to injured. Pb govt must focus on law & order instead of political vendetta to ensure peace & communal harmony in State,” said Badal in a tweet.
AP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said some people want to disturb peace in Punjab.
“First sacrilege, now blast. Some people want to disturb the peace of Punjab. Three crore people of Punjab will not allow their plans to succeed,” said Kejriwal in a tweet.
Home Ministry seeks report from Punjab govt on Ludhiana blast
New Delhi: Union Home Ministry on Thursday sought a detailed report on the blast inside the district court complex in Ludhiana in which one person died and three were injured, officials said.
In a communication, the Union home ministry asked the Punjab government to send the report as early as possible, giving details of the incident.
The ministry also asked the state government to inform it about the findings of the initial investigation and who could be possibly involved in the explosion, the officials said.
One of the walls in the court complex got damaged and the windows of some vehicles parked in the premises were shattered due to the blast that took place on the second floor of the complex.
Ludhiana Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the area has been sealed and forensic teams will collect samples from the blast site.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condemned the blast at the district court complex and called for strict action against those guilty.
“The blast in Ludhiana is extremely condemnable. My condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and prayers of quick recovery for the injured. Strict action must be taken at the earliest against those guilty,” he said on Twitter.
