Punjab police said Sunday the grenade attack on a religious congregation on the outskirts of Amritsar city appears to be a "terrorist act".
"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.
In a "terror attack" near a religious place in Amritsar, Punjab, three people were killed and 10 injured on Sunday.
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According to reports, two bike-borne assailants threw explosives targetting devotees near Nirankari Ashram Dhera at Rajasansi village, Amritsar. At the time of attack, about 200 were people present in the ashram.
"A grenade was lobbed and three people have died in the incident while 10 have been injured in the incident, two of them critically," Inspector General of Police S S Parmar, who visited the incident spot, told reporters.
The blast occurred at a congregation of the Nirankari, a spiritual organisation, in Adliwal village of Amritsar, said deputy commissioner, Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, adding that three people were killed and several injured. The religious place has been sealed-off for forensic investigation .
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“Some incident of grenade throwing has reportedly happened, police force have been rushed to the spot. We are yet to get complete information," TOI quoted SPS Parmar, IGP, border range saying.
Following the attack , search operation has been launched and state sharing border with Rajasthan have been sealed. Security level has also beefed up in Delhi and Burari's Nirankari Bhawans.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh strongly condemned the attack and have ordered for immediate investigation into the matter. The CM has also ensured a compensation of 5 lakh to kin of all demised.
Punjab was put on a high alert on Thursday (November 15) after the counter-intelligence wing of the state police reported the presence of at least half-a-dozen terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
Earlier, a letter issued by the Counter Intelligence Inspector General said: "At least six to seven terrorists are reportedly in Punjab (possibly Ferozepur area) and planning to move towards Delhi from Punjab side."
