Blast Outside Amritsar Temple Sparks Security Concerns

A blast occurred outside the Thakurdwara temple in Amritsar’s Khandwala area in the early hours of Saturday. The explosion, which damaged a portion of the temple’s wall, caused panic among local residents. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. CCTV footage shows two unidentified men arriving on a motorcycle, one of whom hurled an explosive device toward the temple before fleeing. Police suspect Pakistan’s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to be behind the attack, allegedly using local youth as foot soldiers.

Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar confirmed that police were alerted around 2 AM by the temple priest, who was inside the building at the time but remained unharmed. Security has been heightened around the temple, and forensic teams have collected samples to analyze the nature of the explosives. Investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the suspects.

This incident follows a pattern of recent attacks targeting police posts in Amritsar and Gurdaspur. However, this was the first attack on a temple. Bhullar urged young individuals to resist being lured by ISI’s influence, as previous arrests have shown that the accused often belong to economically weaker backgrounds. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condemned the attack, stating that repeated efforts are being made to destabilize Punjab and disturb its peace. He assured that the state police remain vigilant in thwarting such threats.

The incident has intensified security concerns in the border state, raising alarms about external forces attempting to disrupt communal harmony. As investigations continue, authorities are determined to bring the perpetrators to justice.