The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the Nalagarh bomb blast in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Saturday. He added that details about those behind the blast would be clear only after the agency submits its report.
Speaking to reporters in Solan, Sukhu said state forensic teams have collected samples from the blast site. He also said CCTV footage from nearby areas is being examined as part of the investigation.
As the matter is still under investigation, any information about the perpetrators can be disclosed only after the NIA submits its findings, Sukhu said. He was speaking after laying the foundation stone of a Centre of Excellence for divyangjan (differently-abled persons) in Kandaghat.
Residents of Nalagarh woke up on January 1 to the sound of an explosion near a police station in Solan. The blast occurred on Thursday, but no injuries or casualties were reported.
The impact of the explosion was strong enough to crack windows of nearby buildings. Windows of an Army canteen located about 40 metres away were also damaged. Locals said the sound of the blast was heard from a distance of nearly 400 to 500 metres.
Babbar Khalsa International and the Punjab Sovereignty Alliance have claimed responsibility for the blast in a social media post. However, the claim has not yet been verified by authorities.
According to the post, an improvised explosive device (IED) was used in the blast. The groups said the explosion was in retaliation for the Himachal Pradesh police allegedly failing to act against the smuggling of synthetic drugs from Himachal into Punjab.
The post warned that more IED attacks could target police vehicles and headquarters if no action is taken.
Police said a case has been registered at Nalagarh police station under Sections 324(4) (mischief) and 125 (acts endangering human life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Explosive Substances Act.
Neighbouring Punjab has witnessed similar attacks on police stations in recent months. The Punjab DGP has accused Pakistan of attempting to disturb peace and said the masterminds behind these attacks are operating from countries including North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Gulf.
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