A powerful explosion in the Majitha Road Bypass area of Amritsar on Tuesday morning killed a man later identified as a suspected terrorist linked to the banned Babbar Khalsa outfit, officials confirmed. The incident occurred around 9:30am and triggered immediate police response and an intensive investigation.
Initially, authorities believed the blast resulted from the mishandling of explosive material by a scrap dealer, as the victim was found with severe injuries, including both arms blown off. He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Local residents, startled by the loud explosion, alerted the police, who cordoned off the area and began forensic analysis. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with fragments of metal scattered and emergency teams arriving swiftly.
While initial police assessments ruled out gangster or terrorist links, subsequent investigations and intelligence inputs led officials to reconsider the circumstances. A government spokesperson confirmed to ANI that the deceased is being treated as a suspected terrorist, prompting counter-terror units to take over the probe.
The incident has raised serious security concerns in Punjab, especially given the region’s history with pro-Khalistan groups. Investigators are now exploring whether the explosive device was being prepared for a larger terror plot or accidental detonation occurred during fabrication.
