India, Jan. 24 -- An explosion damaged a railway track and a freight engine near Sirhind at 9.50pm on Friday, just days before Republic Day, triggering concerns of a sabotage attempt.

Deputy inspector general (DIG), Ropar range Nanak Singh, who reached the site soon after, said that the blast took place around a newly built section of the dedicated freight corridor (DFC) near the Khanpur railway crossing. The engine of the freight train passing through the section at the time of the blast was damaged, he said.

"Our teams have already started the investigation, and arrests will be made soon. We have informed the National Investigation Agency (NIA)," Nanak Singh said.

Asked whether RDX was used to conduct the blast, Fatehgarh Sahib polic...