AMRITSAR, Nov 18: At least three people were killed and eight others injured in a grenade blast at a religious congregation in Amritsar’s Rajasansi village on Sunday, police said. The blast took place at Nirankari Satsang Bhawan at Adliwal village near Amritsar’s Rajasansi, close to the international airport, they added.
Amritsar police commissioner, S Srivastva said, “It is suspected to be a terrorist attack. We have been probing. No arrest has been made so far. Two unidentified men attacked the congregation.”
Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora said, “It (this incident) appears to have a terror angle. Because it is against a group (of people) and it is not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people, so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that.”
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The DGP also said there was no specific input about any possible attack on Nirankari Bhavan. “There was no issue with this group as such… There was no specific input on (Nirankari Bhavan),” he said.
According to multiple eyewitnesses, two masked men riding a motorcycle threw something at the crowd that caused the blast. Identities of the deceased are yet to be ascertained. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital.
Meanwhile, a forensic team had reached the spot to investigate the blast while the police have cordoned off the entire area.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh reviewed the law and order situation and directed Home Secretary, DGP, DG Law & Order, and DG Intelligence to rush to Rajasansi to supervise the probe. Security has been beefed up at Nirankari Bhawans across the state on the CM’s directions. The chief minister also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the deceased and free treatment for the injured.
