A suspect involved in the bomb attack on Amritsar’s Thakur Dwara temple was killed in an encounter with Punjab Police, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend his accomplice, who managed to flee.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday (March 15), when two men arrived on a motorcycle and hurled an explosive at the temple, causing a powerful blast that damaged the walls and shattered window panes, officials said.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav stated that the Amritsar Commissionerate Police tracked down the suspects in Rajasansi, where one of them opened fire, injuring a head constable and hitting another officer’s turban. “In self-defense, the police returned fire, critically injuring the accused, who was later declared dead at Civil Hospital. The second suspect managed to escape, and efforts are underway to arrest him,” Yadav posted on X.
A fresh case is being registered in connection with the encounter. Following Saturday’s explosion, an FIR had already been lodged against the two suspects under the Explosive Substances Act, leading to their identification through intelligence-based efforts.
CCTV footage of the incident, which went viral, captured the two attackers stopping outside the temple, conducting a brief recce, and then throwing the explosive before fleeing. The attack, which took place around 12:35 am, caused significant damage to nearby buildings, though no casualties were reported.
Advocate Kiranpreet Singh confirmed that the explosion was caused by a grenade. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar stated that the police were alerted about the incident at around 2 am by the temple priest. He alleged the involvement of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, in such attacks and accused it of inciting local youth from economically weaker backgrounds to carry out violent acts.
“Forensic teams have inspected the site, and investigations are ongoing. Pakistan is attempting to destabilize the region by influencing local youth, and I urge them not to fall into such traps,” Bhullar told PTI.
According to top intelligence sources, the attack aligns with a pattern of recent violent incidents in Punjab linked to pro-Khalistan elements. “Babbar Khalsa International, backed by the ISI, had claimed responsibility for the January 2025 explosion at Amritsar’s Gumtala checkpoint and has also targeted police posts,” sources revealed.
Punjab has witnessed at least 13 bomb attacks in recent months, raising serious concerns over the state’s security. Most incidents have targeted religious sites, police stations, and checkpoints, pointing to a deteriorating law-and-order situation.
