Patiala Rail Blast: Suspect Jagroop Singh Killed In Detonation Attempt, Opposition Targets CM

A blast on a railway track near the Shambhu area in Punjab’s Patiala district was an attempted detonation , police said on Tuesday, adding that the suspected operator died when the explosive device went off while he was allegedly trying to plant it.

The explosion occurred late Monday night on the Rajpura–Shambhu stretch of the dedicated freight corridor near Bathonia village, close to the Punjab–Haryana border. Initially believed to be a low-intensity explosion , investigators later concluded it was a deliberate attempt to sabotage railway infrastructure.

Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Varun Sharma said the individual suspected of carrying out the act died during the attempt. A severely mutilated body was recovered from the site, with parts reportedly scattered around the area due to the force of the blast.

Police later identified the deceased as Jagroop Singh, a resident of Panjwar village in Tarn Taran district . Despite the intensity of the explosion, his mobile phone remained largely undamaged , enabling investigators to establish his identity. A bus ticket for travel from Sirhind to Rajpura was also recovered from his belongings, providing additional leads.

According to reports, Jagroop Singh, 35, had worked abroad earlier and was married with two daughters. Villagers said he had no known criminal record. He was also reported to have supported Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh during elections and had recently begun following Sikh religious practices closely.

Investigators recovered wires, a damaged mobile phone and two motorcycles from the blast site, and have launched a technical probe to determine whether Singh had accomplices or links to a wider conspiracy. The Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF) and other agencies are assisting in the investigation.

Railway authorities said the explosion caused minor damage to the track , prompting temporary inspections and diversion of some train services while repairs were carried out.

The incident has also triggered political reactions. Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia criticised the Punjab government’s handling of the situation and questioned the law-and-order scenario in the state. He said repeated incidents involving blasts and security threats pointed to administrative failure and urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take stronger measures to secure critical infrastructure.