On Monday night, two explosions rocked Chandigarh’s Sector 26, one near the Seville Bar and Lounge and the other outside the De’ Orra Club, raising suspicions of an extortion attempt. The blasts caused considerable damage to the establishments, breaking their windows, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
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चंडीगढ़ में 2 क्लबों के बाहर धमाके बम फटने की आशंका; बाहर लगे शीशे टूटे, लोग बोले- बाइक सवारों ने फेंका विस्फोटक pic.twitter.com/OZAMqBfRuj
— Sudarshan हरियाणा (@SudarshantvHR) November 26, 2024
CCTV footage from the scene showed a man approaching from across the road, throwing crude bombs at both clubs. After the explosions, which resulted in thick smoke billowing from the clubs, the suspect quickly fled the area. Police officials were promptly alerted and arrived at the location to begin investigating.
Initial investigations suggest that the explosions might be linked to an extortion attempt, though another theory involving a potential dispute between the clubs’ partners is also being explored. Senior officials from the Chandigarh police are continuing their inquiries to identify the perpetrators and determine the cause behind the attacks.
The Seville Bar and Lounge, which was opened by popular singer and rapper Badshah in December of the previous year, was among the targeted venues. In addition to Seville, Badshah co-owns other establishments, including Sago Spicy Symphony and Sidera.
The explosion outside the clubs follows a similar incident in Punjab’s Mansa district, where a petrol pump was targeted in an extortion attempt. On October 27, a bomb exploded near the station, followed by a threat message demanding Rs 5 crore from the owner, Khushwinder Singh. The sender warned of further violence if the ransom wasn’t paid, stating that a grenade had been used as a “trailer” for future attacks. Singh reported the incident to the police, leading to an FIR under criminal intimidation and extortion charges.
