Amritsar blast: 3 killed, several injured

Three people have been killed and as per reports, several are injured in a blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar on November 18 at around noon.

The blast was at a religious gathering of the Nirankari, a spiritual organisation that is placed in the Adliwal village of Amritsar, Punjab. 

Eyewitnesses have revealed two bike-borne men, wearing masks came outside the Nirankari Dera and hurled a bomb and fled immediately. 

As per reports, attackers entered the Satsang Bhawan on gunpoint, then they fired and lobbed a grenade bomb. 

READ| Amritsar Blast: Several Injured In Blast At Amritsar's Nirankari Bhawan. LIVE Updates Here

State officials said, "I have visited inside and realised that the attackers were very sly. They came in and pointed the guns on people's foreheads threatening them to find a way in to open fire."

Currently, the Chief Minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh is reviewing law and order situation. He has directed Home Secretary, DGP. DG Law and Order and the DG intelligence to rush to Rajasansi for supervising investigations. 

The Chief Minister has also announced Rs. 5 lakh compensation to the kin of the dead and free treatment for the injured. And the security of all the Nirankari Bahwans in Delhi have been beefed up

Reports fleeing in from the blast site in Amritsar, claim that over 20 are injured.  Calling it an intelligence failure, Punjab Congress Chief, Sunil Jakhar said that the state was on high alert, as well as the agencies so the cause of the blast is unknown.

Out of the 3 injured, one is known to be a minor. As per information around 150 people were present at the Satsang while this attack took place. 

Punjab was on high alert ever since the reports of Zakir Moosa, the chief of Jammu and Kashmir based Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind terror outfit hiding in the state was discovered. But as reports come in, Moosa's role in the attack has been ruled out, but the involvement of Pakistan's ISI is alleged. 

Anand Sharma of Congress said, "Terrorist attack is increasing day by day and such incident must be condemned. We have a threat from such forces, Punjab is a bordering state and the government will identify the terrorist and action will be taken. our prayer with the bereaved family."