What Happened at BJP Leader Manoranjan Kalia's Home? A Shocking Blast in Jalandhar!
Blast at Manoranjan Kalia's Residence
Chandigarh: A significant explosion occurred at the home of BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar, Punjab, leading to widespread alarm in the vicinity.
Kalia, who has served as a Cabinet minister and previously held the position of Punjab BJP president, is also a member of the party's national executive.
According to police reports, a 'loud sound' was detected around 1 AM at Kalia's residence located near Shastri Market.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, as confirmed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Manpreet Singh, who mentioned that a forensic team is currently investigating the incident.
Kalia speculated that the explosion might have been caused by a hand grenade.
"The force of the blast was so intense that it severely damaged the partition inside the house, shattered the kitchen window glass, and damaged a bathroom door," Kalia stated.
Additionally, there was some destruction to the entrance floor and his SUV.
Kalia recounted that he was asleep when the explosion occurred, initially suspecting it was an electrical transformer explosion due to overload. His driver later informed him it was a blast, prompting him to contact the police, although he faced difficulties reaching them. Eventually, he dispatched his gunman to the police station.
BJP Jalandhar district president Sushil Sharma reported that unidentified individuals arrived in an e-rickshaw and allegedly threw a 'hand grenade' at Kalia's residence.
Senior police officials, including Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur, arrived at the scene to assess the situation.
Kaur informed the media that the police were alerted about the explosion around 1 AM.
"We have inspected the site, and our forensic teams are conducting an investigation. An FIR will be filed, and we will pursue further inquiries into the incident," she stated.
"We are reviewing the CCTV footage," she added, noting that nearby areas have been secured.
When asked if it was indeed a hand grenade attack, Kaur mentioned that the forensic team had collected samples from the site. "We will share any information we obtain," she assured.
The police are currently analyzing CCTV footage to identify the suspects.
This incident follows a series of explosions targeting police posts in Amritsar and Gurdaspur over the past few months, including a blast outside a temple in Amritsar last month.
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu and Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma visited Kalia's home, where numerous BJP leaders and supporters gathered.
In the aftermath of the blast, opposition parties criticized the AAP government regarding the deteriorating law and order situation.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal called for the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who oversees the home portfolio.
"Lawlessness has reached alarming levels in Punjab. Following attacks on police stations, places of worship, and vandalism of statues of Babasaheb Dr. BR Ambedkar, now a grenade attack has targeted the residence of a former minister and senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia," Badal stated.
"These incidents clearly indicate that the @AamAadmiParty and Chief Minister @BhagwantMann are unable to manage the situation. The CM must take moral responsibility for these occurrences and resign immediately," he added in a post on X.
Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa also criticized the chief minister over the incident.
"The grenade attack on Shri Manoranjan Kalia's residence highlights the rising violence in Punjab under CM @BhagwantMann's administration. Since he took office, there have been multiple blasts, including the Mohali RPG attack in May 2022 and a series of grenade attacks on police stations in late 2024. This trend reveals a significant failure in maintaining law and order. If Chief Minister @BhagwantMann cannot guarantee the safety of citizens, he should resign," Bajwa remarked.