In a shocking incident, two unidentified miscreants on a motorcycle hurled a grenade at a temple in Amritsar, triggering a powerful explosion late Friday night. While the blast caused damage to the temple’s wall and shattered nearby windowpanes, no casualties were reported.
The attack, which took place in the Khandwala area of the city, is the latest in a series of similar incidents in Punjab, marking the 12th such explosion in the past four months. Earlier attacks primarily targeted police establishments, including police stations.
CCTV footage captured the assailants arriving on a bike with a mounted flag. They briefly surveyed the area before one of them lobbed the grenade and fled the scene. The explosion led to panic among locals, particularly amid the ongoing Holi festivities.
Authorities believe the attack was premeditated and aimed at instilling fear. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar suggested Pakistani involvement, stating, “Efforts are being made by Pakistan to disturb the atmosphere here, and some local youths are being misled into participating in such activities. I urge our youth to stay away from these elements.”
State minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal assured that the situation is under control, adding that two suspects have been identified and will be arrested soon.
A resident advocate, Kiranpreet Singh, who witnessed the incident, recounted, “At around midnight, two individuals on a bike stopped outside the Thakur Dwara Mandir, conducted a recce, and then threw a grenade. The blast was so powerful that it also affected nearby buildings, breaking windowpanes. The police arrived soon after and confirmed it was a grenade attack.”
The incident has reignited concerns over Punjab’s law and order situation. BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticized the state government on social media, alleging that security lapses under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann have emboldened criminal elements. “Punjab Police is busy providing VVIP security to Kejriwal while terror networks, drug mafias, and gangsters roam freely. From the Sidhu Moosewala killing to RPG attacks in Mohali and now grenade attacks—Punjab’s situation is alarming,” he posted on X.
With tensions rising, law enforcement agencies have ramped up their investigation to apprehend those responsible for the attack.
–IANS
