Two unidentified men rode up to the Punjab BJP office in Chandigarh’s Sector 37 on a two-wheeler Wednesday evening, threw what police are calling a crude bomb, and fled. The blast went off around 5 pm. A car’s windowpanes shattered; two scooters took splinter damage. Nobody was hurt.
Police reached the spot quickly, cordoned it off, and began scanning CCTV footage from surrounding areas to trace the suspects. Shrapnel recovered from the scene is being examined. Investigators clarified the device was a crude IED not a grenade and that there had been no prior intelligence suggesting the office was at risk.
A Central Forensic Science Laboratory team arrived to collect evidence. CRPF personnel were also deployed. Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwardip Kaur was among the senior officials who came to assess the situation.
BJP leader Vineet Joshi, speaking to reporters, said he heard the blast from inside. “A lot of smoke was seen. There was an atmosphere of panic,” he said, adding that a car and a scooter were damaged. He also noted that the party’s state working president had been staying at the premises for the past four days and that the timing of the blast was “a serious concern.” Forensic examination and CCTV analysis are underway.
(With agency inputs)
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