Punjab Police Sources Say Ludhiana Bombing Suspect Is Sacked Cop With Links To Drug Mafia; Identified By Tattoo Of Religious Symbol: Report

The suspect in the Ludhiana districts court complex blast, as also its lone victim, is learnt to have been identified as a dismissed Punjab Police head constable Gagandeep Singh. Gagandeep was a resident of Khanna in Ludhiana and dismissed from the post of head constable in a drugs case, said police sources.

Police had earlier said they suspect that the man killed in the blast was trying to assemble or plant the explosive device. Gagandeep's family in Khanna also learnt to have identified him, the sources said. He was dismissed from service in 2019.

According to this report in The Tribune, "Police sources privy to the development said police had found a phone at the blast site that helped them identify the suspect. A tattoo of a 'khanda' (religious symbol) affirmed his identity."

A bomb went off in the district courts complex in Ludhiana on Thursday, killing one person and injuring six others, prompting the Punjab government to declare a high alert in the state. Ludhiana Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar had earlier in the day claimed that they have got some important clues during investigation which would prove useful in cracking the case.

The Police had earlier said that a preliminary probe has revealed that the deceased is suspected to be either the carrier of the explosive or a human bomb himself.

Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju visited the Ludhiana district court on Friday and said the Centre and the state will work together to ensure strong action against the domestic and foreign elements trying to spoil peace and harmony in the state as well as the country.

Earlier, on Thursday, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla briefed Home Minister Amit Shah about the blast inside the Ludhiana district court complex and the overall law-and-order situation in Punjab.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sought a detailed report on the blast from the Punjab government, an official said.

With inputs from PTI.