Ludhiana Court Blast Carried Out By Policeman Who Was Sacked In 2019: Punjab DGP
Mumbai: The blast at the district court in Ludhiana was carried out by a former policeman, Punjab DGP Siddharth Chattopadhyaya has said. He was sacked in 2019 and spent two years in jail following his arrest in a drug-trafficking case, Chattopadhyaya added.
One person was killed and six others injured in a bomb blast at the Ludhiana district court premises on Friday, prompting the Punjab government to declare a high alert in the state.
The deceased has been identified as former policeman Gagandeep Singh. Singh, a former head constable of Punjab Police, was arrested by the STF in a drug trafficking case in 2019 and has been in jail since then.
Chattopadhyay said Singh, who has suspended from service two years ago, took the explosive material to the Ludhiana district court.
“The deceased person, former policeman Gagandeep Singh was carrying the explosion. He was dismissed from service in 2019 and spent two years in jail following his arrest in a drug-trafficking case,” the Punjab Director General of Police said during a press briefing.
“The STF had arrested Gagandeep Singh in a narcotics case. The case was under trial. The date of hearing was December 24,” he added.
The DGP further said they recovered a sim card and mobile phone from Singh’s possession.
Earlier on Friday, the Punjab Police Chief held a high-level meeting with all CP/SSPs to review the crime situation in the state in wake of the blast and directs officers to launch preventive, precautionary and operational security measures to ensure peace and communal harmony in the state.
He also directed the officers to continue their crackdown against drug smugglers and suppliers and conduct maximum raids to arrest miscreants, parole jumpers and those involved in extortion, arms and ammunition cases.
The senior police officer was also directed to keep a vigil at all sensitive places and to deploy the maximum police force in the area.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and like us on Facebook for the latest updates and interesting stories.
