A grenade attack occurred outside the residence of former Punjab minister and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar. The explosion resulted in damage to property but fortunately caused no injuries. Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to apprehend the perpetrators and assess the motive behind the attack.

Details of the Incident

The attack took place around 1:00 AM when unidentified assailants hurled a grenade at Kalia's residence. The explosion damaged a glass partition at the entrance, as well as a car and a motorcycle parked on the premises. At the time of the incident, Kalia and his family were present in the house but remained unharmed.

CCTV footage reviewed by the police shows an assailant disembarking from an e-rickshaw and throwing the grenade before fleeing the scene. This evidence is currently under analysis as part of the ongoing investigation.

Immediate Response and Investigation

Following the explosion, police teams and forensic experts promptly arrived at the scene to collect evidence and assess the situation. Jalandhar's Commissioner of Police, Dhanpreet Kaur, stated that the forensic team is examining the evidence to determine whether the attack involved a grenade or another explosive device. She emphasized that CCTV footage is being scrutinized to identify the assailants.

Kalia recounted that he initially mistook the blast for thunder. Upon realizing the severity of the situation, he dispatched his security personnel to alert the local police station, which is located less than 100 meters away. He expressed concerns about the law-and-order situation, highlighting the proximity of the police station and the nature of the attack.

Political Reactions and Security Concerns

The attack has sparked reactions from various political leaders. Former Aam Aadmi Party lawmaker Sheetal Angural, who visited Kalia's residence shortly after the incident, expressed alarm over the safety of senior political figures in Punjab. Opposition Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa described the attack as indicative of escalating violence in the state during Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's tenure. He referenced previous incidents, including the Mohali RPG attack in May 2022 and a series of grenade attacks on police stations in late 2024, as part of a concerning pattern of increasing violence.

Context of Recent Attacks in Punjab

This incident is part of a troubling trend of grenade attacks in Punjab. In March 2025, a grenade was hurled at the residence of a Jalandhar-based YouTuber, leading to the arrest of four individuals. Additionally, between November 2024 and February 2025, there were ten reported explosions outside police installations across the state. These events have raised significant concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement in preventing such attacks.

The grenade attack on Manoranjan Kalia's residence underscores the pressing need for enhanced security measures and vigilant law enforcement in Punjab. As investigations continue, authorities are focused on identifying and apprehending the perpetrators to prevent further incidents. The political ramifications of this attack highlight the broader challenges facing the state's security infrastructure and the imperative to restore public confidence in safety and governance.