A blast was reported outside the residence of Former Punjab minister and BJP Leader Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar, Punjab. Police said that they are monitoring the CCTV footage and investigating whether it was a grenade attack or something else.
Dhanpreet Kaur, Jalandhar Police Commissioner, told media, “Around 1 am, we got information of blast here, after which we reached the spot and started the investigation. The forensic team is investigating the matter…We are also monitoring the CCTV… The forensic team is investigating whether it is a grenade attack or something else…”
“There was a blast at around 1 am…I was sleeping, and I thought that it was the sound of thunder…Later, I was informed that a blast had taken place…after this, I sent my gunman to the police station…CCTV is being investigated; forensic experts are also present here”, said BJP Leader Manoranjan Kalia.
The blast caused damage to a side door near the entrance of the house. CCTV footage revealed that the attacker arrived on an e-rickshaw, threw the grenade, and fled in the same vehicle. Kalia described the moment, saying, “I heard a blast, woke up, and came outside. At first, I thought the explosion came from my generator set. It took me a minute or two to realise it was a grenade.”
Manpreet Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police in Jalandhar, confirmed the incident and said, “the forensic team will inspect and give the report. The incident took place at the residence of Manoranjan Kalia.”
Lashing out Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led AAP Government over the law-and-order situation in the State, BJP State President Sunil Jakhar raised questions over security of people in Punjab.
In a sharp attack on the Punjab government, Sunil Jakhar accused Bhagwant Mann of misusing police resources, alleging that the CM has deployed an intelligence team from the Punjab Police to monitor activities at the Delhi Congress headquarters.
Jakhar questioned the Punjab Government’s preparedness, asking, “Where was this intelligence when a bomb was thrown at BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s residence?”
“CM Bhagwant Mann has deployed an intelligence team of Punjab Police at the Delhi Congress headquarters. He said in the assembly that I have intelligence about what happened in the Delhi Congress meeting. Where was this intelligence when a bomb was thrown at Manoranjan Kalia’s residence?” Jakhar said.
Punjab Government has also failed to address critical issues like drug abuse and corruption, Jakhar said.
“It is an irony that the Jalandhar Police Commissioner has released a statement on the incident, stating that the blast outside the BJP leader’s residence was from a firecracker. Punjab’s key issues—drugs and corruption, the leadership in Punjab is in ruin,” Jakhar said.
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu and Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma visited Manoranjan Kalia’s residence.
“The grenade attack on senior BJP leader Shri Manoranjan Kalia’s residence is a direct assault on the peace, democracy, and law and order of Punjab. This heinous act exposes the complete failure of the Punjab government and its inability to maintain security. Such cowardly acts of terror cannot and will not be tolerated. I strongly condemn this attack. If the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann cannot fulfill his duty, he must resign immediately”, Ravneet Bittu said.
Many other BJP leaders and party supporters also gathered at his residence. Opposition parties targeted the AAP Government over the law-and-order situation following the blast.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal sought the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also holds the home portfolio.
“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.”
The police are yet to confirm the motive of the attack and the identity of the attackers. Last month, four persons, including a woman, were arrested for their alleged involvement in hurling a grenade at the house of a Jalandhar-based YouTuber. Key accused identified as Amritpreet Singh, suffered a bullet injury during an encounter near Chuharwali village.
In another unfortunate incident, two unidentified masked men threw explosives outside Thakur Dwara Temple in Amritsar’s Khandwala area. Though no one was injured, the explosion damaged walls and shattered windowpanes of the temple.
A series of 10 explosions have been reported outside police installations in Punjab between November 2024 and February 2025.
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