A pre-dawn explosion rocked the Islamabad Police Station in Amritsar on Tuesday reigniting concerns over security threats targeting law enforcement establishments in Punjab. The incident, which occurred at around 3:15 am, has been linked to gangsters and pro-Khalistan elements, with gangster Jeewan Fauji claiming responsibility in a widely circulated audio message on social media. 
 
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, who visited the site hours after the blast, confirmed the attack and assured the public of a comprehensive investigation. He emphasized the importance of leveraging both human and technical intelligence to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. “This act of violence is not just an attack on the police but a challenge to the rule of law in Punjab,” he said during a high-level meeting with senior police officials in Amritsar. 
 
DGP Yadav directed the officers concerned to ensure professional policing and take strict action against the perpetrators. “The officers should use both technical and human intelligence to detect and apprehend those responsible for the attack,” he said, while asking them to identify common trends and patterns in such heinous crimes and conduct investigations in a scientific manner, utilizing all the technical and forensic tools for detection of crimes to ensure convictions of accused persons.
 
In an audio message that surfaced shortly after the attack, Jeewan Fauji, a known associate of Khalistani terrorist Happy Passia, claimed that the attack was a “trailer” of what could follow if the Punjab Police and government did not cease their alleged “atrocities”. Fauji warned, “This is a direct message to the police and the government. You have invaded our homes, jailed our families. Now, we will respond in kind. The full film is yet to come.”
 
While no injuries or significant damage were reported, the symbolic nature of the attack underscored an emboldened campaign by anti-state actors. Amritsar Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar assured the public that investigators are closing in on the culprits, with significant progress already made. “We will soon reveal key findings and bring the attackers to justice,” Bhullar remarked, highlighting the arrests of several gang members in recent weeks. 

The Islamabad Police Station blast is the fourth in a series of attacks targeting police establishments in Punjab. On December 4, a grenade blast at Majitha Police Station in Amritsar shattered windows but caused no injuries. Khalistani elements claimed responsibility, branding it part of a broader campaign against the police.
 
Before that, on November 28, a similar grenade attack occurred at Gurbakhsh Police Post in Amritsar. Again, Khalistani groups took credit for the attack via social media posts. On November 23-24, an IED was planted outside Ajnala Police Station but failed to detonate due to technical issues. CCTV footage revealed two suspects planting the explosive, later identified as associates of Happy Passia and Gopi Navanshariya.
 
These attacks, while causing limited physical damage, have heightened anxiety among residents and exposed vulnerabilities in Punjab’s security framework. 
 
Intelligence Warnings Ignored?

Prior to these incidents, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had reportedly alerted the Punjab Police about potential terrorist attacks on police stations. The report highlighted the resurgence of Khalistani elements using tactics reminiscent of the 1984 insurgency, including the use of “dead drop” models to smuggle explosives. Despite these warnings, the recent spate of attacks raises questions about the effectiveness of preventive measures. 
 
Strengthening Security Measures

In response to the escalating threats, DGP Yadav has directed law enforcement to adopt a multi-pronged approach to counter-terrorism. During his visit to Amritsar, Yadav chaired a strategy session with officers from border districts, emphasizing the need for scientific investigation methods, use of forensic tools, and a focus on organized crime.  DGP Yadav also highlighted the significance of community cooperation in combatting such threats. The recently launched ‘Safe Punjab Anti-Drug Helpline’ (9779100200) is part of this strategy, encouraging citizens to report suspicious activities anonymously.  Also reviewing the law and order situation of the border districts and taking stock of the progress achieved in previous attacks on police establishments, DGP Yadav said: “All the previous cases of attacks on the Police establishments including IED implant at Ajnala Police Station and hand grenade attack at Police Post Asron in Nawanshahr have been solved successfully and accused persons have been arrested.”