CHANDIGARH: Punjab police has failed to find any clue to the bomb blast in Shingar cinema Ludhiana on Sunday night in which seven persons were killed.  The powerful blast had occured at 8.40 PM after interval of Bhojpuri film 'Janam Janam Ka Satth' being screened in one of the theateres of Shingar multiplex located in middle of the industrial city.

Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister Punjab, Monday, visited Christian Medical Hospital and Civil Hospital Ludhiana and inquired about the health and treatment of the injured persons of last night's blast. The Chief Minister directed the District Administration to ensure the excellent treatment to the injured persons free of cost.

Interacting with media persons at CMC,  Badal strongly condemned the incident and described it as most heinous and drastically act of the anti national elements and reiterated that law and order would be maintained in the state at all costs. He said the fundamental forces and anti-national element which were inimical to the peace and communal harmony would not be allowed to succeed in their nefarious designs.  Badal said that thorough investigation was being made to ascertain the people behind the incident and the type of explosive used for the blast. He said that a team of forensic experts have also been called to inquire about the explosive used.

Answering a question, the Chief Minister completely ruled out this incident as revival of terrorism in Punjab any way and asserted that the state government had asked the police to keep  strict vigilance at all the religious and other public places. The Chief Minister said that this w is a isolated incident , which can not be considered as the failure of law and order machinery. He said that the SSP and DC had reached on the spot within a period of around 15 minutes after the blast and started rescue operations and shifted the injured in the hospitals.   Badal reiterated that the first priority of the Govt. was to ensure the maintenance of peace and brotherhood in the state. He announced an   Ex-gratia grant of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the six victims of the blast. He appealed the people not to get panic from this incident and to work for maintaining communal harmony and peace in the state.

Later Manoranjan Kalia Local Bodies and Industry Minister and Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Health Minister also visited the hospitals and    inquired about the well being of the patients.   Kalia  speaking to the correspondents strongly condemned the incident and said that the government would deal with firm hand with such anti-national elements, which were trying to create a rift among the different communities.  

Rajinder Bhandari   State President BJP also visited the hospitals and handed over fruits to the patients, while inquiring about their health. He also strongly condemned the incident and said that such   anti national activities should be condemned in  a strong voice jointly by  all sections of the society.