Shambhu Blast Probe: Panjwar village, near Indo-Pak Border, under lens over past militant links
Harvinder Kaur/Babushahi Network
Patiala/Tarn Taran, April 28, 2026: As the investigation into the blast beneath a moving train near Shambhu intensifies, security agencies have expanded their focus to Panjwar village in Tarn Taran district, which surfaced during questioning of accused Jagroop Singh.
Situated in the sensitive Majha region close to the Indo-Pak border, the village is considered strategically significant due to its geography and proximity to international boundary zones.
Investigators are examining whether any historical or residual influences from past unrest in the region may have relevance to the ongoing probe.
However, officials have clarified that no direct link between the village and the incident has been established so far.
Historical Militancy Context Under Review
Panjwar has also drawn attention due to its historical association with Paramjit Singh Panjwar, former chief of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), who was once among India’s most wanted militants and was later killed in Lahore, Pakistan in 2023.
Security agencies are reviewing such historical inputs as part of a broader intelligence assessment. Officials have stressed that these references are being examined only for contextual analysis and do not indicate any present-day connection to the case.
Political and Local Inputs Being Examined
Investigators are also gathering local inputs regarding the region’s socio-political background, including references to public sentiment in parts of the area towards Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, who has been associated with pro-Khalistan rhetoric by authorities.
Local sources further suggested that accused Jagroop Singh was known to be a supporter of Amritpal Singh. However, officials have reiterated that political views or electoral sympathies cannot be equated with criminal involvement, and the investigation remains strictly evidence-based.
Rail Blast Probe and Security Response
The Shambhu blast has been described by police as a serious attempt to target a key freight rail corridor. Following the incident, security has been tightened across Punjab’s railway infrastructure, particularly in sensitive border-adjacent stretches.
Authorities are currently analysing digital evidence, travel records, and ground intelligence to determine whether the accused acted alone or was part of a wider network. Central agencies may join the probe if inter-state or cross-border links emerge.
Historical Note: Prominent Figure from Panjwar
Panjwar village is also the birthplace of Dr. Gurdial Singh Dhillon, one of India’s most distinguished parliamentary leaders.
Gurdial Singh Dhillon was born in Panjwar on 6 August 1915. He served twice as Speaker of the Lok Sabha, was President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (1973–76), and later served as India’s High Commissioner to Canada (1980–82). He belonged to a Dhillon Jat family rooted in the Majha region and remains one of the most prominent political figures to emerge from the area.
Officials have maintained that while historical and regional contexts are being examined, no conclusions have been drawn regarding any individual or village. The investigation remains ongoing and is based strictly on verified evidence related to the Shambhu incident.