On Camera, Amritsar Temple Attacked with Explosive Pouch Thrown, Cops Suggest Pak ISI Connection

Amritsar:

There was a huge blast at a temple in Amritsar late last night, shattering window glasses and causing cracks on the structure’s walls. Two unidentified people on a motorcycle were seen by CCTV cameras going to the Thakur Dwara Temple in the Khandwala area, pausing briefly, and then tossing an explosive at the temple before speeding away.

Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar confirmed that the police had been alerted to the attack at about 2 am by the temple’s priest. Senior officials and forensic squads rushed to the scene to gather evidence. Commissioner Bhullar hinted at a possible connection to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan.

“We received information at 2 am. We reached the spot immediately. The forensic team was called in. We checked the CCTV and spoke to the nearby people. The thing is that Pakistan’s ISI lures our youth into causing trouble in Punjab. We will trace this case in a few days and take necessary action. I warn the youth not to destroy their lives. We will arrest the culprits soon,” he said.

The attack has elicited sharp political responses, with opposition parties and local leaders deploring the worsening law and order situation in Aam Aadmi-Party-governed Punjab.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) called the attack a “serious and sensitive incident” which has injured the religious sentiments of the people.

“The SAD categorically condemned the blast incident close to Thakur Duar Mandir at Sri Amritsar. The 13th such blast within the region is evidence of an utter breakdown of law & order in the state. It’s a serious and sensitive incident, which has inflicted a blow on the sentiments of the people. A high level judicial inquiry needs to be conducted to ascertain the culprits and to bring to light the conspiracy behind this incident,” was stated in the party release. The SAD also accused that Punjab was being intentionally destabilized, warning that “such experiments have proved dangerous in the past and are once again pushing Punjab in the wrong direction.”

BJP leader Ranveet Singh Bittu also condemned Punjab government, saying, “I condemn strongly the bomb explosion at Thakur Dwara temple, Khandwala in Amritsar. AAP government is unable to stop recurring incidents of blasts in border city. Decline in law and order situation in Punjab is a cause of serious concern.”

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann admitted that attempts have been made repeatedly to create unrest in the state but insisted that law and order in Punjab were still intact as compared to other states.

“always many efforts there are to dislocate the peace in Punjab. Drugs, gangsters, extortion are included there, and there are efforts that Punjab has also become a dislocated state. In other states, during Holi festival, the police did resort to lathi charge for processions. But in Punjab, such instances do not take place. There is good law and order situation in Punjab,” said the Chief Minister of Punjab.

A further probe into the case is being conducted, police added.