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Chandigarh on alert after suspected grenade blast, suspects flee in autorickshaw
Chandigarh grenade blast: A 30-second CCTV footage from the vicinity captured the moment of the explosion, with the blast audible at the 14-second mark
A suspected grenade blast occurred in Chandigarh on Wednesday near a house reportedly owned by a non-resident Indian (NRI).
Eyewitnesses reported seeing three suspects arrive at the scene in an autorickshaw shortly before the blast. The explosion, which occurred around 6:15 pm, was loud enough to be heard over a kilometre away, according to local residents.
A 30-second CCTV footage from the vicinity captured the moment of the explosion, with the blast audible at the 14-second mark. The Chandigarh Police, alongside forensic experts from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), arrived at the scene to collect evidence and determine the nature of the explosive device.
"There was a loud sound. Some pressure type low-intensity blast took place because of which some windows and pots were damaged," Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur said.
To a question, the SSP said the complainant told them that two persons came in an auto-rickshaw and hurled a "grenade" at the house.
"The complainants were sitting on their verandah of the house. They saw the suspects," the police officer said, adding efforts were on to trace the vehicle.
Asked about the veracity of the claim that a grenade was lobbed at the house, Kaur said, "We are investigating it. A blast has happened and we are investigating the cause of it."
Authorities in neighbouring Mohali were put on high alert after receiving information that the suspects fled the scene in an autorickshaw, possibly heading towards their jurisdiction.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohali issued an urgent message to field officers about the suspicious grenade blast, asking them to alert all checkpoints and patrol units.
With inputs from Bureau and agencies
