Grenade attack at religious gathering in Amritsar, three killed

The grenade was lobbed by bike-borne persons at a religious congregation of 'Nirankaris' which was being held at Adhiwala village here, according to eyewitness accounts.

"A grenade has been lobbed and 5-10 persons have been injured in the incident," a senior Punjab police official, who visited the incident spot, told reporters.

Police said that the incident took place inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, and three persons were killed in the incident.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh reviewed the law and order situation in the state in the wake of the grenade attack on a religious congregation on the outskirts of Amritsar city which left three persons dead.

While reviewing the law and order situation, Singh directed the Home Secretary, DGP, DG (Law and Order) and DG Intelligence to rush to Rajasansi in Amritsar to supervise investigations, an official spokesman said here.

Punjab was on alert following an input claiming that “a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were reportedly in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. The state was put on alert after four persons snatched a SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district last week.

On the directions of the chief minister, security has been strengthened at all Nirankari Bhawans in the state, the spokesman said.

He said Singh announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation for the kin of the dead and free treatment for the injured.