‘50 bombs’ claim: Punjab Leader of Opposition Pratap Bajwa booked after questioning

A senior Punjab Police official said that CM Bhagwant Mann’s orders regarding the incident were very clear and the LoP’s explanation about his statement was not satisfactory.

Earlier in the day, Punjab Police officers questioned Bajwa over his claim in a TV interview that 50 hand grenades have entered Punjab, 18 have been used in blasts while 32 remain unaccounted for and may he used to carry out blasts in the state.

AIG Intelligence Ravjot Grewal and Mohali SP (City) Harbir Atwal questioned Bajwa at his Chandigarh home to determine the source of the information.

Mann also asked how Bajwa got information about the number of grenades and whether he was in touch with elements in Pakistan. If Bajwa has made the statement to spread terror and unrest in Punjab, strict action will be taken against him, he said.

Bajwa said, “It is unfortunate that Mann is running the government not with the intent to serve the people of Punjab but to carry out personal vendettas. Today’s events stand as clear testimony to the AAP government’s misuse of power. This morning, media persons were informed by the government to reach my residence, and soon after, two senior police officials were sent to question me. Their visit was to inquire whether I had given a statement to a news channel regarding 50 hand grenades allegedly sent from across the border into Punjab. I firmly acknowledged that I did share this information with a media channel,” said Bajwa.

Bajwa said that as someone who has personally suffered the horrors of terrorism — “having lost my father in a terrorist attack in 1987 and he too being targeted in 1990” — he “will never remain silent when I perceive a threat to Punjab’s safety”.