Low-Intensity Blast on Amritsar-Delhi Railway Line in Punjab Triggers Security Concerns Ahead of Republic Day
A low-intensity explosion on the Amritsar-Delhi goods train line near Sirhind in Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib district has raised significant security alarms, especially with Republic Day celebrations approaching. The incident occurred around 10 pm on Friday, causing minor damage to the railway track and a goods train, but fortunately resulting in no loss of life or major property damage.
Incident Details and Immediate Response
The blast took place on a railway track designated for Amritsar–Delhi goods trains, located at a distance from Sirhind railway station near Khanpur village. According to police reports, a railway foot-plating vehicle was moving from Mandi Gobindgarh towards Sirhind when the explosion occurred. The train's glass pane was damaged, and the locomotive pilot sustained minor injuries, later identified as a small cut on the cheek.
Fatehgarh Sahib Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shubham Agrawal confirmed that the railway track sustained only minor damage, which has since been repaired, and services on the route have resumed. Immediately after receiving information, teams from Fatehgarh Sahib district police, Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF), and forensic units reached the spot to investigate.
Investigation and Official Statements
An FIR has been registered, and a thorough investigation is currently underway. DIG Dr Nanak Singh, who inspected the site, stated that the police are exploring all possible angles. "We cannot rule out the role of anti-social elements in this incident. It is a criminal activity. However, it would be too early to link it to any terrorist activity as the investigation is still underway," he emphasized.
DIG Singh added that coordination with other investigating agencies is ongoing, and the police are maintaining close vigilance to ensure public safety. He assured that the culprits would soon be apprehended. The police clarified earlier reports of serious injuries or major damage as factually incorrect, noting that only minor injuries were sustained.
Political Reactions and Law and Order Concerns
The incident has sparked sharp criticism from opposition parties, who have linked it to a deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab under the current Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal expressed deep concern, alleging that such incidents threaten the peace and security restored after decades of turmoil.
Badal stated, "The incident is a stark indicator of the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab under the current AAP government. The repeated failure to curb such brazen attacks is unacceptable and demands urgent accountability." He highlighted that this blast occurred just two days before Republic Day, despite the government's claims of a massive campaign against notorious elements.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also voiced alarm on social media, questioning who benefits from such chaos and why the state is failing to prevent it. The political backlash underscores growing unease over security in the region, especially following previous high-profile attacks using rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) on police facilities in Mohali and Tarn Taran.
Broader Security Context in Punjab
This explosion adds to a series of security concerns in Punjab, including several hoax bomb threat emails sent to schools and court complexes since last December. Although no untoward incidents have occurred from those threats, they have contributed to public anxiety. Sources suggest that unidentified persons may have detonated the explosive device on the track hours before the goods train passed through, indicating premeditated action.
As investigations continue, the focus remains on identifying the perpetrators and preventing similar incidents. The police have urged the public to remain calm while assuring that all necessary measures are being taken to uphold law and order in the state.
