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At least one person died, and five others were injured in an explosion at the Ludhiana District Court Complex on Thursday, 23 December.
While earlier reports suggested that two people had died in the blast, the police have so far confirmed just one death.
The five people who were injured include two women and three men and are undergoing treatment in different hospitals in the city respectively.
The police later registered an FIR against an unknown person in connection with the blast. A team of National Security Guard (NSG) also visited the explosion site to probe the matter later in the evening.
The blast reportedly took place in a public toilet on the second floor of the court complex.
Earlier, Ludhiana Police Commissioner had told ANI that the identity of the deceased was still being ascertained and that the injured were in a stable condition.
Sandeep Kaur, 31, and Sharanjit Kaur, 25, were the two women injured in the blast and were admitted to Civil Hospital Ludhiana.
Manish Kumar, 32, was admitted to CMC Ludhiana, while Kuldeep Singh Mand, 50, and Krishan Khanna, 75, were admitted to DMC Ludhiana.
Earlier, without divulging details, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said that he was heading to Ludhiana.
"I am going to Ludhiana to take cognizance of the situation. Some anti-national elements are resorting to such activities as Assembly elections are approaching. The government is on alert. The people should also stay alert," he said.
"First they tried sacrilege, now this. They are trying to disrupt peace. Those found guilty will not be spared," he added.
He later visited the injured at a city hospital and said an investigation into the matter was underway.
"Some people want to create disturbance in Punjab. The governemnt is on alert. A person died & five got injured in the incident," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Whole State on High Alert: Punjab Deputy CM Randhawa
Meanwhile, Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said the whole state was on high alert. "Our forensic team has reached. Ours is a border state, so we cannot rule out anything, including the possibility of external forces, as they never want Punjab to be stable; the whole state is on high alert," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
He too visited the hospital to meet the injured persons from the explosion.
"Patients have minor injuries. One of them said the explosion sound was too loud as if a building fell. Pakistan doesn't want us stable," he said.
Punjab DGP Siddharth Chattopadhyaya said that every crowded place in the state had been put on alert. "We cannot comment on anything. Only the experts can tell the kind of explosives used, but the district, state, & central forensics are on it. Every crowded place is on alert, the public should also be careful."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs sought a report from the Punjab government on the explosion in Ludhiana District Court Complex, sources said, as per ANI.
Several Political Leaders React
Former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh also took to Twitter to say that he was saddened to hear about the demise of the two individuals.
"Disturbing news of a blast at Ludhiana court complex. Saddened to know about the demise of 2 individuals, Praying for the recovery of those injured. @PunjabPoliceInd must get to the bottom of this (sic)," he said.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal hit out at the state government, saying that it had failed to uphold law and order in the state and that such an incident ahead of the elections reflects on its performance.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal also took to Twitter to say that that some people want to disrupt peace in the state.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice of India NV Ramana expressed deep shock at the incident. He also asked the Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court to enquire about the developments, reported ANI.
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