The main accused in the December 23 bomb blast in Punjab court was an ex-cop and had links to Khalistani elements, state’s top police chief Siddharth Chattopadhyaya said, suggesting that the attack was carried out on the behest of Pakistan’s spy agency ISI.

Addressing the media for the first time after assuming charge as Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP), Chattopadhyaya on Saturday said that the accused — Gagandeep Singh, a dismissed Punjab Police head constable who got killed in the blast— was in touch with radical Khalistan elements when he was in jail in a drugs case.

Citing preliminary investigations, the DGP said that Singh got in touch with such elements “most probably while he was in jail in Punjab” where he “transitioned from just narcotics to mafia and terror”.

The top police chief said the blast was meant to create&nbsp;a sense of insecurity ahead of the state elections and instil&nbsp;a sense of fear in the courts.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/punjab-on-high-alert-as-two-killed-three-injured-in-ludhiana-court-blast-439271">Punjab on high alert as two killed, three injured in Ludhiana court blast</a>

“It was an external conspiracy. The motive was to scare the judiciary. Two persons undergoing trial in drug cases have been brought on production warrant while a woman constable has been detained for questioning,” Chattopadhyaya said.

“As per leads with us, we strongly suspect that the person (behind Ludhiana blast) is operating from Pakistan only,” the DGP added.

The DGP said “police visibility” would be increased and security beefed up at crowded places in the state by pruning security cover of private individuals and deploying them in the field.

The bombing took place on Thursday, killing accused Gagandeep Singh and injuring six others at Ludhiana District Court Complex.

Ludhiana Commissioner of Police informed that the explosion was heard near the Record Room on the second floor of the Ludhiana Court complex.

The blast damaged the roof and walls of the toilet. Following the explosion, the bathroom grill fell on the vehicles parked on the ground floor.

(With inputs from agencies)

The main accused in the December 23 bomb blast in Punjab court was an ex-cop and had links to Khalistani elements, state’s top police chief Siddharth Chattopadhyaya said, suggesting that the attack was carried out on the behest of Pakistan’s spy agency ISI.

The main accused in the December 23 bomb blast in Punjab court was an ex-cop and had links to Khalistani elements, state’s top police chief Siddharth Chattopadhyaya said, suggesting that the attack was carried out on the behest of Pakistan’s spy agency ISI. Addressing the media for the first time after assuming charge as Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP), Chattopadhyaya on Saturday said that the accused — Gagandeep Singh, a dismissed Punjab Police head constable who got killed in the blast— was in touch with radical Khalistan elements when he was in jail in a drugs case. Citing preliminary investigations, the DGP said that Singh got in touch with such elements “most probably while he was in jail in Punjab” where he “transitioned from just narcotics to mafia and terror”. The top police chief said the blast was meant to create a sense of insecurity ahead of the state elections and instil a sense of fear in the courts. Also read | Punjab on high alert as two killed, three injured in Ludhiana court blast “It was an external conspiracy. The motive was to scare the judiciary. Two persons undergoing trial in drug cases have been brought on production warrant while a woman constable has been detained for questioning,” Chattopadhyaya said. “As per leads with us, we strongly suspect that the person (behind Ludhiana blast) is operating from Pakistan only,” the DGP added. The DGP said “police visibility” would be increased and security beefed up at crowded places in the state by pruning security cover of private individuals and deploying them in the field. The bombing took place on Thursday, killing accused Gagandeep Singh and injuring six others at Ludhiana District Court Complex. Ludhiana Commissioner of Police informed that the explosion was heard near the Record Room on the second floor of the Ludhiana Court complex. The blast damaged the roof and walls of the toilet. Following the explosion, the bathroom grill fell on the vehicles parked on the ground floor. (With inputs from agencies)

Ludhiana court blast accused an ex-cop, had links to Khalistan, ISI: Punjab Police chief

A blast rocked the Ludhiana court complex in poll-bound Punjab on Thursday afternoon, killing two people and injuring four more.

According to police, the explosion occurred at about 12:22 pm in a washroom on the second floor of the District and Sessions court building in Ludhiana.&nbsp;

The explosion shattered glass in surrounding rooms and ripped through a piece of the structure, causing damage to the bathroom walls and ripping through a section of the building.

An FIR has been filed against unknown person. The charges slapped are under sections 124 A (Sedition), 120 B (conspiracy), 302 (Murder), 307 (Attempt to murder) and that for explosive act.

When the explosion occurred, the district court was crowded and operational.&nbsp;

According to Chief Minister Charanjit Channi, the incident was carried out to disrupt peace and order in the city before the assembly elections. 
 
After a bomb was heard in the area, a crowd gathered outside the court.

The area has been blocked off by police, and fire trucks have arrived.

An investigation has been initiated into the matter, according to a police officer, while the rescue mission is underway.

Meanwhile, a high alert has been issued across Punjab, with police being told to beef up security in public locations.

According to sources, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has urged officials to beef up security at court buildings in Punjab.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A blast rocked the Ludhiana court complex in poll-bound Punjab on Thursday afternoon, killing two people and injuring four more. According to police, the explosion occurred at about 12:22 pm in a washroom on the second floor of the District and Sessions court building in Ludhiana.

A blast rocked the Ludhiana court complex in poll-bound Punjab on Thursday afternoon, killing two people and injuring four more. According to police, the explosion occurred at about 12:22 pm in a washroom on the second floor of the District and Sessions court building in Ludhiana. The explosion shattered glass in surrounding rooms and ripped through a piece of the structure, causing damage to the bathroom walls and ripping through a section of the building. An FIR has been filed against unknown person. The charges slapped are under sections 124 A (Sedition), 120 B (conspiracy), 302 (Murder), 307 (Attempt to murder) and that for explosive act. When the explosion occurred, the district court was crowded and operational. According to Chief Minister Charanjit Channi, the incident was carried out to disrupt peace and order in the city before the assembly elections. After a bomb was heard in the area, a crowd gathered outside the court. The area has been blocked off by police, and fire trucks have arrived. An investigation has been initiated into the matter, according to a police officer, while the rescue mission is underway. Meanwhile, a high alert has been issued across Punjab, with police being told to beef up security in public locations. According to sources, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has urged officials to beef up security at court buildings in Punjab. (With inputs from agencies)

Punjab on high alert as two killed, three injured in Ludhiana court blast

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Ludhiana court blast accused an ex-cop, had links to Khalistan, ISI: Punjab Police chief

Punjab on high alert as two killed, three injured in Ludhiana court blast