Amritsar attack has Pakistan signature, says Amarinder
₹50lakh reward for attackers’ info, Satkar Committee men rounded up
:Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday hinted at the involvement of Pakistan in the Amritsar Nirankari Bhawan attack in which three people were killed and 20 injured.
Police have rounded up around a dozen people, including three members of Satkar Committee, for questioning even as teams of National Investigation Agency (NIA) and forensic experts visited the sect’s prayer hall where the grenade was hurled by two bike-borne attackers on those attending the Sunday congregration.
“The Nirankari Bhawan attack seemed to carry Pakistan’s signature, with initial investigations indicating that the grenade used was similar to the ones being manufactured by the Pakistani army ordnance factory,” Amarinder told mediapersons after visiting the site along with his senior ministers.
He said similar HG-84 grenades were recovered from a terror module busted by Punjab Police last month, indicating a high probability of the involvement of inimical forces from across the border.
“Prima facie, this appears to be an act of terror by separatist forces, organised with the involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terrorist groups,” said the chief minister. He said certain “leads” have been found which are being pursued aggressively and assured that culprits would soon be arrested. He also announced a reward of Rs 50 lakh for anyone providing information on those involved in the blast.
Responding to a query, Amarinder said the attack could not be equated with the Nirankari conflict in 1978 as that was a religious matter and the Rajasansi incident was purely a case of terrorism. Violence between the Sant Nirankari Mission and Sikhs on April 13, 1978, at Amritsar had left 13 dead, and sparked the subsequent wave of terrorism in the state. Sunday’s incident had no religious overtones, as per initial investigations, said Amarinder.
In response to another question, he said the state was already on high alert, with strict checking going on around landmark buildings and other vital public installations and infrastructure. Amarinder, who visited the hospital along with ministers Navjot Singh Sidhu,
OP Soni and PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar to meet the injured, announced jobs for the kin of those killed in the attack and Rs 50,000 each to the injured, in addition to their free treatment
A NIA team that visited the blast site along with explosive experts held discussions with the top brass of the Punjab Police. Satkar Commitee member Tarlochan Singh said Amritsar-rural police have arrested their three members—Kuldeep Singh Mode, Satnam Singh Lopoke and Rajan.
CAPT AMARINDER SINGH , Punjab CM Initial investigations indicate that the grenade used was similar to the ones being manufactured by the Pakistani army ordnance factory.