A blast was reported in the Ludhiana District Court Complex on Thursday. Reports said that two persons were killed and several people injured in the blast. The blast took place inside a washroom on the second floor of the Ludhiana court complex.

The cops present at the spot are carrying out the investigation and are yet to ascertain the nature and cause of the blast.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a report from the Punjab government on the explosion.

The identity of a possible suspect, whose body was found at the explosion site, is being Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday condemned the blast at the district court complex in Punjab’s Ludhiana and called for strict action against those guilty.

“The blast in Ludhiana is extremely condemnable. My condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and prayers of quick recovery for the injured. Strict action must be taken at the earliest against those guilty,” he said on Twitter.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the Ludhiana court complex blast. “Some people want to create disturbance in Punjab before the State Assembly elections. The people of Punjab should stay together,” said Arvind Kejriwal. 

“An investigation is underway. Some people want to create disturbance in Punjab. Government is on alert. A person died and 5 got injured in the incident,” said Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi.

“We cannot comment on anything. Only the experts can tell the kind of explosives used, but the district, state, & central forensics are on it. Every crowded place is on alert, the public should also be careful,” said Punjab DGP Siddharth Chattopadhyaya.

Deputy Punjab CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa visited the hospital to meet the injured patients from the Ludhiana District Court explosion.

“Patients have minor injuries. One of them said the explosion sound was too loud as if a building fell. Pakistan doesn’t want us stable,” he said

Ludhiana Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that four persons who were injured are in stable condition.

“Bomb disposal squad is at the site. Police conducting a search at the Court complex. A team of NSG is also coming here,” he added.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa who visited the blast site told Times Now that officers are monitoring the situation.

 “A red alert has been issued in Punjab. As ours is a border state we can’t rule out external forces angle,” the Deputy CM said.

We are monitoring CCTV footage for possible leads, Randhawa said adding that Pakistan may also be involved.

Several people have been injured in the blast incident. Five to six injured persons have been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

One of the eyewitnesses said that the blast is a handiwork of some anti-social elements.

Notably, Punjab MLA Balwinder Singh Bains was present inside the court complex when the blast happened. Speaking to Times Now, he confirmed that the intensity was very high and as there was a loud explosion. 

Pictures suggest that it was a “powerful blast” as the walls of the washroom have been damaged and window panes smashed.

The blast occurred at around 12:20 pm.

The forensic team has also reached the blast spot and examined the area.

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said he would be visiting the blast site soon and assured appropriate action.

Speaking to the media, Channi said that some anti-national elements are doing such acts as Punjab Assembly elections are nearing. He assured the state government is on alert and said strict action will be taken against the guilty.

Punjab leader Amarinder Singh expressed shock and grief over the blast incident at the Ludhiana court complex. He hoped that Punjab Police will crack the blast case.

“Disturbing news of a blast at Ludhiana court complex. Saddened to know about the demise of 2 individuals, Praying for the recovery of those injured. @PunjabPoliceInd must get to the bottom of this,” Singh tweeted.

Expressing his views on the blast incident, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal said conspiracy and said that some anti-social elements want to disturb peace ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections 2022. He extended condolences to the deceased’s families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Advocate Saurabh Maheshwari, one of the eyewitnesses said that the blast occurred on the ground floor and the intensity was such that the floor and window panes of the first floor were also damaged.