A key suspect in the grenade attack on Amritsar’s Thakurdwara Temple was killed in a police encounter on Monday, according to Punjab Police officials. The deceased, identified as Gursidak, son of Jagjit Singh, a resident of Bal village in Amritsar, was involved in the March 14 attack, while his accomplice Vishal, son of Raju, remains at large.
On Monday morning, Punjab Police received intelligence about the movement of the two accused in Rajasansi, Amritsar. A police team attempted to apprehend them when the suspects, riding a motorcycle, attempted to flee. As the Station Head Officer (SHO) of Chheharta tried to stop them, the accused opened fire at the police party.
During the ensuing encounter, head constable Gurpreet Singh was injured, and a bullet struck Inspector Amolak Singh’s turban. In response, Inspector Vinod Kumar fired back, injuring Gursidak. However, Vishal managed to escape. The injured police officers and Gursidak were rushed to Civil Hospital, where Gursidak later succumbed to his injuries.
An FIR has been filed in the case at the PS Airport.
This development follows the grenade attack on Thakurdwara Temple in the Khandwala area of Amritsar on the night of March 14. Two masked men were seen on CCTV footage throwing a suspicious object at the temple. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident prompted a forensic investigation.
The grenade attack adds to the tense security situation in Amritsar, following another violent incident at the Golden Temple on Friday, where at least five people were injured in an attack with an iron rod.
BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticized the Aam Aadmi Party-led government for what he termed as a “terrible law and order situation” in the state.