Saturday, March 29, 2025
Amritsar blast victim identified as 25-year-old Nitin Kumar, an auto driver from Cheharta. Family confirms his drug addiction; terror angle under investigation.
In a shocking development following Tuesday morning’s bomb blast on Majitha Road, Amritsar, police have identified the deceased as 25-year-old Nitin Kumar, a resident of the Ghaniupura Kale area in Cheharta. Nitin, who earned his livelihood as an auto-rickshaw driver, belonged to an economically weak background and lived in a rented house with his wife and parents.
According to family members, Nitin was undergoing treatment for substance abuse at a local de-addiction center. They confirmed his long-standing drug habit. On the morning of the blast, he left home around 7 AM without his auto, a deviation from his routine. His family is unaware of how he ended up at the blast site.
Following the explosion, police conducted a thorough search of Nitin’s home, recovering only two broken mobile phones. Family members insisted that Nitin had no known links to any criminal or terror-related activity, and CCTV footage showed him leaving his residence alone, raising doubts about any association with a larger group.
Investigators, however, suggest a different angle. Preliminary findings indicate that Nitin may have arrived at the location to retrieve a consignment of explosives, allegedly sent by a terrorist group. As he attempted to lift the bomb, it detonated, causing critical injuries to his limbs and face. He later succumbed at the hospital during treatment.
DIG Satinder Singh confirmed that some evidence was found in Nitin’s pocket, potentially linking him to a terrorist outfit, although the specific group remains unidentified.
Security agencies suspect that Pakistani-backed elements may be attempting to destabilize Punjab, using vulnerable locals like Nitin. SSP Maninder Singh stated that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies are believed to be behind such attempts to create unrest in the region. In response, security in the area has been ramped up, and police are conducting extensive inquiries among local residents.
The Amritsar blast has highlighted a disturbing intersection of drug addiction, vulnerability, and possible terrorist exploitation. While the family denies any direct involvement in terrorism, the police have not ruled out a deliberate terror conspiracy. Investigations are ongoing to confirm whether Nitin was a pawn or an active participant.
