The Punjab Police on Tuesday said it arrested two people, including a Pakistan-based man, in connection with the grenade attack outside BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s residence in Jalandhar. A top police officer said the case was cracked within 12 hours and termed it a “major conspiracy” aimed at disturbing communal harmony.
The police are probing their links with the banned Khalistani outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). The grenade was hurled outside Kalia’s house around 1 am on Tuesday. The former Punjab minister was inside his house at the time but was not harmed. CCTV footage showed the attacker arriving in an e-rickshaw, taking a U-turn after initially passing the house, and then throwing the grenade before fleeing the scene.
“The case has been solved in a scientific manner. We are in touch with central agencies and continuing with raids. Preventive measures are also being taken,” said ADGP Shukla. He added that the Punjab Police is cracking most such cases swiftly and is committed to maintaining law and order in the state.
Manoranjan Kalia, reacting to the incident, said he initially thought the sound was from a transformer blast or thunder. He later realised it was a grenade explosion after being informed by someone at his door. The blast damaged an aluminum partition, shattered glass windows of his home, his SUV and a motorcycle in the courtyard.
This is the latest in a series of grenade attacks that have rocked Punjab in the past six months. Since mid-October 2024, the state has witnessed at least 16 such incidents, targeting a mix of police posts, residential areas, religious places, and now a political leader.