Back3 killed, 10 hurt in Amritsar grenade attack
Eyewitnesses said that two men with their faces covered came on a motorcycle, hurled a grenade at the Nirankari Bhawan, where a religious ceremony was underway, and fled
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New Delhi: Days after intelligence agencies informed the local police about the presence of seven Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists, including Zakir Musa in Punjab, a grenade attack in Amritsar on Sunday killed three and injured 10 people.
The attack took place at a prayer hall in Amritsar’s Rajasansi village, the police said. Eyewitnesses said that two men with their faces covered came on a motorcycle, hurled a grenade at the Nirankari Bhawan, where a religious ceremony was underway, and fled.
On Friday and Saturday, the local police and intelligence agencies had issued a red alert saying that the group of JeM terrorists were “planning to move towards Delhi".
“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," Punjab director general of police Suresh Arora told PTI.
While chief minister Amarinder Singh reviewed the law and order situation in the state, the Union home ministry also said that it was keeping a watch on security developments.
“Deeply anguished by the death of innocent people in a grenade attack at Amritsar in Punjab today. It is a reprehensible act of violence. My condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this attack and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. Spoke to the Chief Minister of Punjab, Capt. Amarinder who has apprised me of the situation in the wake of grenade attack in Amritsar. Strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime," Union home minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.
On the chief minister’s directions, security has been beefed up across all Nirankari Bhawans in the state, the home minister added.
While condemning the incident, Singh announced a compensation of ₹ 5 lakh for the kin of those killed and free treatment to the injured.
“My heart goes out to the victims of the Amritsar bomb blast and their families...My government will give ₹ 5 lakh to the kin of each of the dead and free treatment to the injured. Have asked the district administration to extend all help," the chief minister said in a tweet.
PTI contributed to this story.
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