Ludhiana, December 23: In a blast that took place in a toilet on the third floor in the old building around 12.25 pm, two persons were killed and several injured here on Thursday. Two courtrooms are located near the toilet.
The blast damaged the roof and walls of the toilet. Following the explosion, the bathroom grill fell on the vehicles parked on the ground floor.
Senior police officials reached the spot and started investigations.
Hundreds of litigants with their attendants visit the court complex daily. Luckily, lawyers’ chambers are located in the new building.
Since lawyers were observing a strike today, there was not much footfall of litigants and their attendants at the courts complex.
The entire court complex was vacated, and judges stopped their ongoing courts.
Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar is leading the investigation as forensic experts and dog squads also reached the spot. Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma is also on the spot.
Commissioner Bhullar confirmed one death and two injuries in the blast.
The District Administrative Complex was completely evacuated on directions of the Deputy Commissioner. All government offices in the district would be thoroughly checked, the DC said.
All four adjoining six-storey buildings of the district courts complex have been cordoned off with heavy police force deployed on the spot.
The NIA has rushes a two-member team from Chandigarh to probe the incident.
Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who is scheduled to visit Mullanpur Dakha in Ludhiana, on Thursday afternoon, is likely to visit the blast site shortly.
Channi said as the Assembly elections in the state were approaching near, some anti-national and anti-social elements were indulging in terror activities.
“Since they failed to succeed in their nefarious designs after committing the sacrilege incidents, they are now creating terror,” he said.
Stern action would be taken against those trying to disturb law and order situation in the state, Punjab CM Channi assured.
