The Nalagarh trail: How terror handlers turned Punjab’s vulnerable youth into foot soldiers

On the morning of January 1, 2026, Nalagarh, a quiet town in Himachal Pradesh, was rocked by an explosion that shattered window panes and left officials stunned. The blast, which was later claimed by banned Khalistani groups such as Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Punjab Sovereignty Alliance (PSA), caused no casualties but sent shockwaves throughout the region.

While the attack didn't aim to kill, its true intention was to instill fear and demonstrate the terror group's reach and intentions. This marked the first time in two decades that this state had experienced a bomb blast. The investigation revealed that cross-border terror networks had shifted tactics, targeting Punjab's vulnerable youth as foot soldiers for strikes orchestrated abroad. This attack also exposed the vulnerability of India's security system to such sneak attacks.