CCTV footage of a blast at a petrol pump in Punjab’s Mansa district at around 1 am on October 27 has surfaced. Soon after the blast, petrol pump owner Khushvinder Singh received a threatening message on WhatsApp from a foreign number. The message claimed responsibility for the blast demanded ₹5 crore and threatened to cause further damage if not paid.
The owner received a threatening WhatsApp call and message
Khushvinder Singh was informed about the blast by his staff, after which he received a missed call and a message on WhatsApp. The message threatened that if the demanded amount was not paid, his house would be the next target. According to the FIR, the message read that this blast was only a ‘trailer’ and a grenade was thrown as a warning.
Police started investigation
The police have started investigating the incident and have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bhagirath Meena told the media that forensic teams have been called to the spot to analyze the evidence of the blast.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has clarified that it is not involved in the case as it is not related to national security but a ransom case. The local police are now trying to identify the sender of the message and find out if the threat can be extended further. The incident has created tension in the local community and the police are making efforts to nab the culprits.
