The late-night blast outside the Army cantonment area in Khasa, located on the Amritsar-Attari bypass road, has triggered panic not only among residents but also within the trading community, as it is likely to impact business and tourism in the holy city.
The incident site lies on the Attari road leading to the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post, where thousands of tourists gather daily to witness the world-famous beating retreat ceremony.
Gurnam Singh, a resident of Khasa, said a loud explosion-like sound was heard at around 11 pm, creating panic in the area.
Surinder Singh, president of the Federation of Hotel and Guest Houses, said such incidents tend to create fear among tourists and groups, many of whom may cancel their bookings. He added that tourism is a sensitive sector and forms the backbone of Amritsar’s retail economy, which could be severely affected by such events.
Rajan Kapoor, a shawl trader, said tourists often buy Punjabi suits and shawls as souvenirs from the city. “Incidents like these spark fear among visitors and directly impact our trade,” he said.
Meanwhile, the back-to-back blasts in Jalandhar and Amritsar last night have once again exposed vulnerabilities in Punjab’s security apparatus, raising concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the sensitive border state.
Although security agencies have launched a massive manhunt to trace those responsible, the incidents point to a troubling pattern that has persisted for nearly two years.
The explosions were not isolated events. Punjab has witnessed repeated grenade and IED attacks targeting police establishments, military installations and even religious places. More than a dozen such blasts have rocked the region, undermining claims of “foolproof” security.
On March 30, twin grenade attacks targeted the Bhindi Saida police station, while another blast had earlier occurred at the Rayya police chowki.
