Amritsar Temple Attack Accused Killed in Encounter with Punjab Police

Amritsar: Days after an explosive device was hurled at Thakur Dwara Temple in Amritsar's Khandwala area in the early hours of Saturday, one of the accused in the Amritsar Temple Attack has been killed following an encounter with the Punjab Police.

Amritsar Temple Attack Accused Killed in Police Encounter

An accused in the blast incident outside a temple in Amritsar was killed in an exchange of fire with police, a top officer said on Monday. The other accused fled and efforts are underway to nab him. According to Gaurav Yadav, Punjab Police Chief said that the cops acted on the specific intelligence they had been given. 

Also Read: Amritsar Temple Blast: Chilling Video Emerges Showing 2 Men On Bike Throwing Explosives, Pak Link Suspected

In a statement, he said, “Police teams tracked the suspects in Rajasansi. The accused opened fire, injuring HC Gurpreet Singh and striking Insp. Amolak Singh's turban. Acting in self-defence, the police party fired back, injuring the accused. He was taken to Civil Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The other accused fled, and efforts are on to arrest him.”

Explosive Device Hurled at Thakur Dwara Temple in Amritsar

On March 15, an explosion took place outside the Thakur Dwara Temple when an individual threw an explosive device at the building, causing damage to a section of its wall and breaking several window panes. 

The CCTV footage from the scene captured two unidentified individuals arriving at the temple on a motorcycle. After pausing for a brief moment, one of them was seen launching the explosive device towards the temple before both suspects quickly fled the area.

Punjab Police Suspects Pakistan's ISI Link

In a development, the Punjab Police, during initial probe, suspected an ISI link to the attack. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, the Police Commissioner of Amritsar said that it is possible that Pakistan-based intelligence agency ISI may be behind the explosion at the Thakur Dwara Temple in Amritsar.

(Inputs from PTI)