Grenade attack targets BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s Jalandhar home, no injuries reported

Suspected grenade hurled at BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s Jalandhar home around 1am; no injuries reported
CCTV shows attacker alighting from e-rickshaw, throwing explosive at entrance before fleeing; glass and vehicles damaged
Forensic team collected samples from blast site; security heightened at sensitive locations including bus stands and railway stations

A suspected grenade was hurled at the residence of former Punjab Cabinet Minister and senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia around 1am on Tuesday in Jalandhar. The blast caused damage to a glass partition at the entrance of the house, a car, and a motorcycle parked nearby. Kalia and his family were present inside the residence at the time but remained unharmed.

CCTV footage showed an unidentified individual getting down from an e-rickshaw and throwing an object, suspected to be a grenade, before fleeing the spot. According to police, the explosive was thrown directly in front of the main gate of Kalia’s house. “There was a blast at around 1 a.m. I was sleeping and I thought that it was the sound of thunder,” Kalia said. “Later, I was informed that a blast had taken place.”

Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur Randhawa confirmed that officials received information about the blast at 1am and senior officers reached the site shortly after. “We cordoned off the whole area and the CCTV footage was under examination,” she said. Forensic teams arrived at the spot and have collected samples. “The forensic team is investigating whether it is a grenade attack or something else,” she added.

Kalia said the glass door and window panes of his car were completely damaged. He added that his gunman tried to alert the nearby police station, located less than 100 metres from the house, but the phone call went unanswered. The gunman then physically rushed to the police station to report the incident. Deputy Commissioner of Police Manpreet Singh said the forensic teams would study the evidence and submit their findings.

This marks the first attack on a politician’s home in Punjab following recent grenade attacks targeting police stations. In March 2025, a grenade was thrown at YouTuber Rozer Sandhu’s residence in Jalandhar. From November 2024 to February 2025, ten blasts have been reported in various parts of Punjab, particularly in the Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts. Security has been increased at key locations including railway stations and bus terminals.

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