LIVE COVERAGE |Punjab on Edge: ‘Operation Nawa Savair’—Who Is the Khalistan Liberation Army and What Do They Want?
Tuesday night was not a quiet one in Punjab. Two explosions— one outside the BSF headquarters in Jalandhar, another near an Army cantonment in Amritsar— shook one of India’s most sensitive border states within hours of each other. Fresh security concerns have gripped Punjab after the twin explosions, prompting the National Investigation Agency to step in and assist local authorities. By Wednesday morning, the state was on high alert, investigators were combing blast sites, and the political blame game had already begun.
What Happened at BSF Chowk, Jalandhar
The first blast struck at around 8 pm on Tuesday, near BSF Chowk in Jalandhar— a stone’s throw from the Punjab Frontier headquarters of the Border Security Force. A scooter belonging to a food delivery worker, Gurpreet Singh, suddenly caught fire and exploded with such violence that the shockwave shattered the glass panes of shops and cars up to 300 metres away.
Jalandhar police suspect the blast may have been caused by explosives in a parcel that had not yet been delivered and was still kept in a box on the delivery boy’s scooter. Gurpreet Singh is currently being questioned by police. CCTV footage from the scene reportedly shows a man fleeing moments after the blast, adding urgency to the probe.
No casualties have been reported. Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur said officials were still verifying the exact nature of the incident, adding that the possibility of an explosion had not been ruled out. Bomb disposal squads, forensic teams, and sniffer dog units were deployed at the site. Then, just as things were settling, Amritsar erupted.
Second Blast: Amritsar Cantonment Targeted
Around two hours later, an explosion occurred along the outer wall of the Army’s Khasa camp on the Amritsar–Attari road. Residents said the sound was heard from over a kilometre away, and some reported that nearby structures shook. The area was sealed off and security forces launched combing operations. Authorities are now examining whether both incidents were coordinated.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, who visited the Khasa blast site along with Army and other security officials, said that as per initial investigation, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were used at both locations. That finding is significant— it moves the needle from “accidental fire” toward something far more deliberate.
Who Is Claiming Responsibility— and Why
A poster began circulating on social media within hours of the blasts, purportedly from the Khalistan Liberation Army (KLA), a Khalistani separatist group. The poster, dated May 5, 2026, claimed the Jalandhar attack was carried out under “Operation Nawa Savair”— framed as retaliation for the death of 19-year-old Ranjit Singh, who was killed in a police encounter in Gurdaspur on February 25. Singh’s family has sought an independent probe into the incident. The poster’s language was chilling and explicit, threatening further violence and naming BSF DIG Sandeep Goyal and his family as targets.
Officials have not yet verified the authenticity of the poster. It was shared on Instagram by an account that had previously posted inflammatory videos supporting Khalistan ideology. Investigators are not treating the claim as confirmed, but they are not dismissing it either.
The KLA’s framing— wrapping a terror strike inside the language of martyrdom and justice— follows a well-worn playbook. Whether the group actually carried out the attack or is opportunistically attaching itself to the incident, the claim itself is a message: someone wants Punjab scared, and someone wants the world to know it.
Is Pakistan’s ISI Behind This?
Security agencies are probing a possible Pakistan-linked ISI role in the Punjab twin blasts. Officials noted that the timing of the blasts coincides with the anniversary of Operation Sindoor. Investigations into earlier incidents in Punjab— including a grenade attack on the Crime Investigation Agency office in Moga in November 2025 and an IED detonation on the Sirhind railway track in January 2026— have consistently pointed toward handlers located in Pakistan and Malaysia, suggesting a coordinated, cross-border effort to destabilize Punjab.
This pattern is what makes investigators cautious about calling Tuesday’s blasts isolated incidents. Pakistan’s ISI has long used Khalistani proxies as instruments of pressure against India, particularly along the Punjab border. When IEDs are found near BSF and Army installations, and a Pakistan-linked separatist group rushes to claim credit, the cross-border angle becomes unavoidable.
NIA Steps In— What Are They Finding?
Several specialized teams of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have been dispatched to the Jalandhar blast site to conduct an independent investigation and determine the cause of the explosion. NIA teams are also headed to Amritsar. Their presence signals that the Centre is treating this as more than a local law-and-order problem. Officials say all angles— including terror links, cross-border involvement, and local networks— are being examined. Forensic analysis is underway, and the IED confirmation from the DGP gives investigators a concrete thread to pull.
The Political Storm: Mann Blames BJP, BJP Fires Back
Here is where the story took a sharp and uncomfortable turn. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, speaking to reporters in Anandpur Sahib, linked the incidents to the BJP, calling them the party’s “preparation for the Punjab elections.” He termed the twin blasts “minor” and alleged that BJP always sought to gain votes by inciting violence and intimidating the public.
The timing and tone of this statement drew immediate and sharp criticism. Mann, who also holds the home affairs portfolio in his own government, made these allegations even as police had already pointed to possible ISI involvement.
Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar called Mann’s statement irresponsible and driven by panic, saying it proved Mann was not fit to hold office. Union Minister Ravneet Bittu dared Mann to register an FIR against the BJP if he truly believed what he was saying.
BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “Pakistan and ISI always try to create violence in our borders areas but Punjab CM’s statement is the one that will shake the nation.”
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal put it starkly: “Three blasts in 10 days, two in a single day — May 5: Jalandhar outside BSF headquarters and Sri Amritsar Sahib Army area, April 27: Rajpura rail track.” He added that over two dozen blasts under the AAP regime were pushing Punjab back into dark days.
What Happens Next
Punjab is under heightened security. NIA teams are on the ground. The IED angle has been confirmed. A Pakistan-linked Khalistani group has put its name on the attack. And the Chief Minister is on a four-day “Shukrana Yatra”— a gratitude tour— while his border state smoulders.
The real question is not just who planted the bombs. It is how many warnings were missed, who was watching, and whether Punjab’s security apparatus was anywhere close to ready. Those are questions investigators will need to answer. The political noise can wait.
— Live coverage continues. This article will be updated as more details emerge