Who is to Blame for the Series of Blasts in Punjab?
Adding to this skepticism is the poor conviction rate in terror-related cases.
The recent blast outside the Islamabad police station in Amritsar has raised significant concerns about law and order in Punjab. Since November 23, six such blasts have occurred in the Majha region alone. While it is fortunate that no lives have been lost, the repeated incidents, particularly near police stations or posts, indicate a larger conspiracy at play.
Punjab Police Director General Gaurav Yadav has acknowledged the existence of this conspiracy, pointing fingers at Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). According to Yadav, the ISI is allegedly working through militant outfits like Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) to destabilize Indian Punjab.
Yadav further claims that instead of directly deploying their operatives, these groups are using local goons and drug addicts as “hired ponies” to execute their plans. Similar allegations have been made by the Delhi Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) regarding recent blasts outside two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) campuses in Delhi.
A Pattern of Concerns
While the police's claims about ISI's involvement warrant attention, they also prompt a critical question: why is Punjab's environment vulnerable to such conspiracies? Furthermore, the repetitive narrative presented by the police after each blast makes it harder for the public to trust these assertions.
Adding to this skepticism is the poor conviction rate in terror-related cases. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), only 17-18% of those arrested for alleged terror crimes are convicted. This low rate undermines the credibility of police claims and highlights inefficiencies in investigating and prosecuting these cases.
Conflicting Statements Add to Distrust
A lack of consistency in police communication has further eroded public confidence. For instance, after the Islamabad police station blast, Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar initially claimed the noise was caused by a heavy object falling on the sentry post’s roof. However, state-level senior officers maintained it was a genuine explosion. These discrepancies suggest poor coordination among law enforcement agencies.
Moreover, Amritsar district has become a hotspot for such incidents, with blasts reported in Ajnala on November 23, outside Gurbaksh Nagar police station on November 28, and near Majitha police station on December 4. The Islamabad police station blast is just the latest in this alarming trend. Despite frequent arrests and assurances from the police, the blasts continue unabated.
A Deeper Issue at Play
The ongoing series of blasts points to systemic issues within Punjab’s policing and governance. Arrests, weapon seizures, and drug busts have become routine, but they seem to have little impact on curbing crime. Experts suggest that political interference in law enforcement is a significant factor. Veteran police officers argue that while the Punjab Police is well-resourced, political pressures often divert its focus from crime prevention to electoral priorities.
In such an environment, if criminals have grown bolder, it is not solely the fault of the police. It is a shared failure of governance, political leadership, and systemic inefficiencies. Punjab must address these deeper issues to restore law and order and rebuild public trust.