Punjab: On May 14, State Police arrested a Zirakpur-based taxi driver, Umar Deen, in connection with the IED blast that occurred earlier this month outside the Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters in Jalandhar. According to reports, another key accused, Anil Sharma, has also been taken into custody.
The explosion took place on May 5 around 8:15 pm, when a parked scooter detonated near the main gate of the BSF Punjab Frontier headquarters at BSF Chowk in Jalandhar. Later that night, a second low-intensity blast was reported near the Khasa Army Cantonment in Amritsar.
Investigations indicate that Umar Deen, who had been residing in Zirakpur for several months, is suspected of planting the explosive device. Authorities are currently examining his links to other suspects and potential handlers. The role of Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti is also under scrutiny.
Earlier, the Delhi Police Special Cell detained a suspect after CCTV footage allegedly showed a man leaving Jalandhar bus stand for Delhi shortly after the blast. Anil Sharma, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, is also being questioned as investigators explore the possibility of a wider conspiracy. So far, 17 individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav confirmed that improvised explosive devices were used in the twin blasts. While the Khalistan Liberation Army has reportedly claimed responsibility, officials believe such groups often function as proxy fronts, allegedly backed by Pakistan’s ISI, to portray Punjab as a disturbed region.
