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Two people were killed and four others seriously injured in a bomb blast near the Ludhiana Magistrate's Court in Punjab this afternoon. Chief Minister Charanjit Channi said that the explosive was targeted at disrupting law and order in the city before the vote.
Police cordoned off the area and firefighting tenders were available. During the rescue operation, the police chief said an investigation had been launched into the matter.
Meanwhile, a major warning has been issued throughout Punjab and police have been ordered to tighten security at public places. According to sources, the Punjab and Haryana High Courts have asked the authorities to tighten security at the Punjab courthouse.
The crowd gathered outside the court after a gunshot was heard in the area. A video from the scene shows smoke rising from a six-story building.
There was a strike by lawyers on Thursday, so few people were on the court during the blast. The bathroom walls were demolished, while the window glass was also smashed to pieces.
Investigation is going on and the reason of the blast has not yet been determined.
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said he would arrive in Ludhiana soon. "There was an explosion in Ludhiana. I quickly finished the meeting and now I am going to Ludhiana," said CM Charanjit Singh Channi.
"Some anti-apartheid movements may be the cause of such acts as elections approach," CM Charanjit Singh Channi said, adding that "the culprits will not be left behind."
He noted that the Punjab election was approaching and that the government was aware of similar incidents.
Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said, " CM and I are on the route to Ludhiana to look into the situation after this tragic incident."
Along with NSG, a team of two members of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is expected to visit the incident premises. A team from the National Bomb Data Center was also rushed to the scene.
The National Security Guard (NSG) will also investigate the tragic incident.
