A suspected improvised explosive device (IED) blast near the Nalagarh police station in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district on New Year’s Day has raised serious concerns about a possible Pakistan-backed terror conspiracy. The blast took place around 9:40 am and sent shockwaves through the surrounding area, triggering panic among local residents.

Although no injuries or casualties were reported, the explosion was powerful enough to shatter windows and shake buildings within a radius of nearly 500 metres. Glass panes measuring 16 mm in thickness were broken, and windows of an Army canteen located just 40 metres from the blast site were cracked. Residents described hearing a loud and sudden blast that jolted them awake and caused widespread fear in the area.

Police teams reached the spot immediately after the incident and cordoned off the area to prevent any further risk. Forensic experts were called to collect samples from multiple locations to determine the nature of the explosion. Authorities also began scanning CCTV footage from nearby areas to trace any suspicious activity.

Baddi Superintendent of Police Vinod Dhiman said the cause of the blast was still under investigation and urged restraint until forensic results were available. “There was scrap material lying nearby, which initially raised the possibility of an accidental blast involving paint or chemicals. However, we are not jumping to conclusions until the forensic examination is complete,” he said.

The Himachal Pradesh Police clarified that they had not received any prior threat alerts related to the incident and said deliberate sabotage had not yet been confirmed. Officials appealed to the public to remain vigilant but calm. “There is no need for panic. We are thoroughly investigating all angles,” SP Dhiman added.

While Himachal police maintained caution, Punjab Police officials viewed the incident with greater suspicion. Senior Punjab Police officers believe the blast may be part of a larger Pakistan-sponsored conspiracy aimed at creating instability in sensitive regions located northwest of Delhi and south of Jammu and Kashmir. Coordination between Punjab and Himachal police intensified soon after the incident, with officers analysing photographs, videos, and forensic inputs for possible cross-border links.

A joint press note allegedly issued by Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and the Punjab Sovereignty Alliance (PSA) surfaced on Thursday, claiming responsibility for the blast. According to the note, the groups said the explosion was carried out due to anger over the alleged flow of synthetic drugs from the Baddi-Nalagarh pharmaceutical belt into Punjab, which they claimed was killing the state’s youth.

The note reportedly named US-based Gopi Nawanshehria and Kabal Singh as the masterminds behind the attack. Nawanshehria has previously been linked to a series of blasts in Punjab since November 2024, many of which targeted police installations. The press note also warned that attacks on police vehicles and headquarters would intensify if drug trafficking continued unchecked.

Punjab Police, however, rejected the drug-related justification outright. A senior Punjab Police officer said, “The drug angle is only a cover. These attacks follow a clear pattern where foreign handlers, most likely directed by Pakistan’s ISI, recruit vulnerable youth with money and false narratives. There is no real ideology involved.”

The officer further stated that similar claims had been made in earlier incidents, which later investigations proved were carried out at the behest of Pakistan’s intelligence agency. “This method of using separatist rhetoric to hide external agendas is not new,” the officer said.

The location of the blast has further heightened concerns, as Nalagarh lies close to the Baddi-Nalagarh pharmaceutical corridor, a major industrial hub, which authorities say is vulnerable to misuse for synthetic drug production. Security agencies believe this makes the area a potential hotspot for hybrid threats combining narco-terrorism with separatist propaganda.

Economic Times Online said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the press note or the Times of India report, citing Punjab Police officials. However, officials noted that the claims fit an established pattern of ISI-backed proxy operations aimed at destabilising India’s Border States.

SP Vinod Dhiman reiterated that investigations were ongoing and stressed that there was no panic situation on the ground. “We are keeping all possibilities open, including an accidental blast and deliberate sabotage. Security around police installations has been increased as a precaution,” he said.

Given Nalagarh’s strategic location between Punjab’s drug-affected regions and the sensitive Jammu and Kashmir corridor, intelligence agencies believe the area could be used to test low-intensity disruptive activities.

Central security agencies are expected to step in if further links emerge, similar to previous interventions following serial blasts in Punjab. Meanwhile, state police forces have strengthened intelligence sharing to prevent future incidents.

As forensic analysis continues, the true nature of the explosion—whether an IED or an accident—remains crucial. The Nalagarh blast has once again highlighted the evolving security challenges in India’s northwest region and the need for heightened vigilance.