Bhatinda blast: All leads point to a terror attack

The Intelligence Bureau had warned that terror groups may strike in a bid to cause a communal rift in the state.

Chandigarh, Feb 2: The Bhatinda blast was a targeted terror strike, investigators have prima facie concluded. The presence of Improvised Explosive Devices and the strategic manner in which it was placed has led the police to believe that the blast was a targeted terror strike. Investigators have, however, refused to name any one organisation responsible for the blast.

On Tuesday, a powerful bomb placed in a car exploded outside an election rally in which six persons were killed. The police say that the car was parked in between two trees and the bomb was triggered off by a remote. From the blast site, the police have recovered IEDs and also a pressure cooker in which the bomb had been placed.

Although no terrorist outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack, Intelligence Bureau officials say that it could be the handiwork of a local module of an outfit. The police say that once the forensic report is out, there would be more clarity. "We have sent the material collected from the spot for forensic analysis. We have also written to the Union Home Ministry which would send an NSG team to assist with the investigation," police officials also said.

It may be recalled that the Intelligence Bureau had warned of terror strikes ahead of the Punjab assembly elections 2017. The IB had warned that terror groups may strike in a bid to cause a communal rift in the state. The killing of a Hindu leader, Amit Sharma on January 14 is also being probed as a terror attack.

OneIndia News