Suspected Terrorist Attack: Grenade Blast At Nirankari Satsang Bhawan In Amritsar Village Kills 3 And Injures 19

Three people were killed and 19 others injured in an explosion at Nirankari Satsang Bhawan at a religious congregation in Rajasansi village in Amritsar on Sunday (18 November), reports The Indian Express.

“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.” Amritsar police commissioner, S Srivastava said.

Punjab had been on alert following an input claiming that “a group of six to seven JeM terrorists” were suspected to be in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. Zakir Musa, the chief of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, was reportedly spotted near Amritsar a few days ago.

Sources quote multiple eyewitnesses saying that two masked men on a motorcycle threw an object, suspected to be a grenade, at the crowd that caused the explosion. The injured were immediately rushed to the nearby hospital while the identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed while

A forensic team has reached the spot to investigate the blast and the area has been cordoned off. The Chief Minister has announced Rs five lakh compensation for the deceased and free medical treatment of the injured.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has condemned the attack and expressed support for the victims.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh for the deceased and promised that the government bear the expenses for treating the injured.

“I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in the wake of Amritsar bomb blast. I urge them not to panic and to remain calm. We will not let the forces of terror destroy our hard earned peace,” said Singh in a tweet.