'This is just a trailer': Ahead of Republic Day, blast rocks train track in Punjab's Sirhind; sparks Khalistani link after alleged letter

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• Blast damages railway track and freight train near Sirhind, Punjab
• Probe into possible Khalistani extremist link after claim letter emerges
• NIA and Intelligence Bureau join state police in investigating the explosion

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Punjab security agencies are examining several possible leads, including the role of Khalistani extremist elements, after an explosion damaged a section of railway infrastructure and a freight train engine near Sirhind. The probe intensified after a letter allegedly issued by a banned organisation surfaced on social media, sources told HT.

The incident occurred late on Friday night, days ahead of Republic Day, triggering heightened security concerns amid fears of a deliberate act aimed at unsettling the region. Officials said the timing and nature of the blast point to a possible attempt at sabotage.

The explosion was reported at around 9.50 pm near the Khanpur railway crossing in Fatehgarh Sahib district. Authorities said the blast tore apart a three to four foot portion of the newly laid Dedicated Freight Corridor track and caused damage to the engine of a freight train that was passing through the area at the time.

A safety official and the train’s loco pilot suffered minor injuries and were treated at a nearby medical facility. Villagers in Khanpur said they heard a “loud sound” that led to confusion and panic shortly after the explosion.

Investigators are also scrutinising a purported claim of responsibility circulating online. Police sources said the letter, shared on social media platforms, is allegedly from the Khalistan Zindabad Force and bears the name of its “chief sevadar” Ranjit Singh Jammu.

The Punjabi language letter refers to the blast as a “trailer” linked to the 40th anniversary of the “Khalistan declaration”. It claims the group intentionally chose a freight train to “avoid undue loss”, while warning that a passenger train could have been targeted. The message further states that the group’s “struggle” will continue to “disturb the sleep” of authorities until its demands are fulfilled.

Deputy Inspector General of Police of the Ropar range, Nanak Singh, who reached the site soon after the incident, said a coordinated investigation involving multiple agencies is underway. “Our teams have already started the investigation, and we have informed the National Investigation Agency (NIA),” Singh said.

Officials aware of the developments said personnel from the NIA and the Intelligence Bureau have joined the state police in examining all possible angles related to the explosion.