One person sustained minor injuries after a low-intensity explosion took place in Punjab’s Amritsar on Monday, following which security was beefed up in the city, even as the Opposition hit out at ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for its failure to maintain law and order.
The blast occurred around 6.15 a.m. on a heritage street near the Golden Temple in Amritsar, close to the area where an explosion had taken place on May 6.
“The explosion occurred around 6.15 a.m. and our technical team is looking into the incident. We are waiting for the report surrounding what content was there, or in what quantity it was. On May 6[night] as well, a blast had occurred, both these blasts were minor. People suffered injuries after window panes broke. Two persons were injured in both blasts,” Parminder Singh Bhandal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Amritsar) told The Hindu.
“The area has been sealed, and necessary police force has been deployed. We are investigating the matter from angles. CCTV footage is being extensively analysed. We are scientifically and forensically investigating the explosions to find the truth. The situation on the ground is completely normal.” he said.
Flag march held
The Police and Rapid Action Teams conducted a flag march in the city to maintain law and order.
Hitting out at the AAP, the Leader of the Opposition in Punjab and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said “The Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also holds the portfolio of Home Minister, must explain why he couldn’t beef up the security in the vicinity after the first blast in the same area that took place on Saturday night.”
Mr. Bajwa said the heritage street (Amritsar) was the only passage that was used by the devotees and tourists to reach Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) and other historical places including Jalianwala Bagh, and if the AAP government could not secure the surroundings of the most sacred place such as Darbar Sahib, what else could one expect from the government?