At the early morning hours of April 8, 2025, a blast was witnessed outside the house of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar, Punjab. The explosion was heard at around 1:00 AM, which sent the neighborhood into shock and led to instant response from local authorities. Luckily, there were no reports of injuries, and Kalia and his family are safe.
Manoranjan Kalia, who is a veteran BJP leader and erstwhile Punjab cabinet minister, reminisced about how he at first confused the din as thunder. Having quickly grasped the seriousness of the matter, he ordered his security personnel to notify the local police. Law enforcement personnel and forensic experts reached the location soon after to gauge the situation and take stock of the evidence.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Manpreet Singh said forensic experts are investigating the blast area extensively to ascertain the nature and cause of the explosion. He reiterated that a thorough probe is in progress, with officials examining closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the area to determine if there was any suspicious movement or person involved.
Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur also inspected the spot and stated that the probe is intended to determine if the incident was a grenade blast or if another kind of explosive device was used. She confirmed to the public that all the required steps are being implemented to guarantee the security and safety of the residents.This has caused alarm among the local community, particularly in light of the recent reported cases of similar attacks in the area. Four persons were arrested in March 2025 for allegedly throwing a grenade at the house of a Jalandhar-based YouTuber. Also, an incident had occurred wherein some unidentified masked men hurled explosives outside Amritsar’s Khandwala area’s Thakur Dwara Temple, resulting in damage to property but not any injuries.
The reason behind the recent blast outside Kalia’s house is still unclear. All the angles are being probed by authorities, including political reasons and personal rivalries. The BJP has raised concerns regarding the security of its Punjab leaders and demanded a speedy and transparent probe.
Citizens of Jalandhar have expressed their concerns over the security scenario in the city. Local leaders are calling for enhancing security arrangements, especially for known personalities who could be targeted. The public is also urged to be cautious and report anything suspicious to the authorities. As the investigation unfolds, the police have assured citizens that they are determined to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure that there are no more such incidents. They have called on citizens to assist the law enforcement agencies by giving them any information that may help in the investigation.
This event highlights the importance of improving security measures and proactive action to protect public figures and institutions in Punjab. The government should reassess and tighten current security measures to ensure such incidents are avoided in the future.
The situation is still fluid, and more details will be reported as details become available. The community continues to be on red alert, looking for a quick conclusion to the investigation and the return of a sense of security within the area.
