Chandigarh: A petrol bomb was allegedly hurled at a homeopathic clinic in Bathinda on Monday night, triggering security concerns as the incident occurred during Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s visit to the city and near a recently inaugurated RSS office.
According to police, the attack took place on Mela Ram Road in the Vishal Nagar area. The clinic, operated by Dr Tarsem Garg from his residence, is located directly opposite a newly opened Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) office, making the area particularly sensitive from a security perspective.
No injuries were reported in the incident. However, the petrol bomb struck a window of the clinic, leaving burn marks on the premises. A scooter parked in the courtyard and several plants also sustained damage.
Senior police officials, including DIG Harjeet Singh and SSP Jyoti Yadav, reached the spot soon after receiving information about the incident.
Dr Tarsem Garg said two employees were present inside the clinic when the attack occurred. The staff immediately informed him about the explosion and fire. They managed to control the flames before the situation could worsen.
After reviewing CCTV footage, Dr Garg claimed that two unidentified youths were seen setting a petrol bomb on fire and throwing it towards the clinic.
Notably, members of Dr Garg’s family had recently quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
SP (City) Narendra Singh said police sealed the area immediately after receiving information about the attack and launched a search operation. He added that investigators had obtained some important leads but declined to disclose details to avoid affecting the investigation.
SSP Jyoti Yadav said teams from the CIA unit and forensic experts collected evidence and samples from the scene. A detailed investigation is underway to identify the accused and determine the motive behind the attack.
The incident assumes significance as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann arrived in Bathinda on Monday night and is scheduled to attend multiple official programmes in the district. The attack near a high-security zone during the Chief Minister’s visit has raised questions about local security arrangements and prompted heightened vigilance by law enforcement agencies.
Police officials said further action would be taken based on the findings of the ongoing investigation.
