Series of Bomb Blasts Indicate Failing Law & Order in Panjab

Since 24 Nov, eight blasts have taken place in Panjab, mostly targeting police stations and police check posts. The blasts have not caused any loss of life or substantial loss of property. The latest explosion was on 20 Dec at the abandoned Wadala Bangar police post in Kalanaur, district Gurdaspur. Some of the other attacks were: 19 Dec, Kalanaur; 17 Dec, Islamabad, Amritsar; 13 Dec, Ghania Ke Bangar, Batala; 2 Dec, Nawanshahr; and 29 Nov, a vacant post, Amritsar. The frequency of blasts is a matter of concern over the state’s law and order situation and reminiscent of similar blasts in 2021-22. Austrian-made Arges grenades used in these attacks were also used in the following: 1993 Mumbai, 2001 Indian Parliament and recently in Sector 10 Chandigarh. In the Chandigarh case, the suspect was identified as Rohan Masih, arrested from Amritsar. On 23 Dec, three Sikh men were gunned down in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh (UP) in a joint operation by Panjab and UP police. Initial reports called the dead ‘criminals’ but in a few hours national and international media started reporting Gurvinder Singh, aged 25 years, Virender Singh alias Ravi, aged 23 years, Jaspreet Singh alias Pratap Singh, aged 18 years, were Khalistani ‘terrorists’, linked to the Gurdaspur blasts. The three hailed from poor families and had clean police records. Modules of Khalistan Zindabad (long live) Force (KZF) have claimed responsibility for the blasts through unverified social media posts. On 24 Dec, Panjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav claimed British Army soldier Jagjeet Singh alias Fateh Singh ‘Baagi’ was the KZF operative behind the blasts. On 25 Dec, UK Ministry of Defence denied the claim saying no person with that name serves in their Army.