Punjab police suspect ISI hand in Himachal Pradesh blast; BKI, PSA own up to it

Navjeevan Gopal / TNN / Jan 03, 2026, 02:47 IST

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Punjab police suspect ISI hand in Himachal Pradesh blast; BKI, PSA own up to it

Solan blast

CHANDIGARH: Punjab police suspect Thursday's explosion in Himachal Pradesh's Nalagarh was orchestrated by Pakistan's ISI, allegedly to destabilise the region.A purported press note surfaced Thursday, with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Punjab Sovereignty Alliance (PSA) claiming responsibility for the attack near Nalagarh police station in Himachal's Solan.The note said the mission was planned and executed by Gopi Nawanshehria and Kabal Singh. Nawanshehria has claimed responsibility for many attacks on police establishments since Nov 2024.BKI and PSA claimed it targeted "synthetic drugs manufactured in Himachal Pradesh and sent into Punjab". A senior police officer dismissed ideological clai-ms as a "farce". "These elem-ents are working at the behest of ISI to destabilise the region," the officer told TOI.

About the AuthorNavjeevan Gopal

<p>Based in Punjab with journalistic experience of over two decades, Navjeevan Gopal is a senior journalist reporting on crucial issues such as drugs, crime, gangsters, terror and other security issues in the border state. The Punjab Police is one of his core beats. Currently an assistant editor with The Times of India in Punjab Bureau, he comes with a vast experience of over 18 years in The Indian Express, the national daily known for its investigative journalism. Gopal had started his career in journalism with the Hindustan Times as a contributor, gradually moving to The Indian Express and thereafter TOI. He also covers Punjab’s politics with his area of interests being the 104-year-old party Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He also extensively reported on Sikh diaspora settled across the globe.<br></p>

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