NIA records witnesses’ statements

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Adliwal (Amritsar), Nov 19

A day after the grenade attack, officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) combed the Nirankari Bhavan complex for about six hours.

The NIA team, comprising officials from Jammu and Kashmir and New Delhi, collected splinters of the HG-84 hand grenade used in the attack and recorded the statements of witnesses, including gatekeeper Arjun Singh and Gagandeep Singh.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, PPCC president Sunil Jakhar, Cabinet ministers Navjot Singh Sidhu, OP Soni and Sukhbinder Singh Sukh Sarkaria, local MP Gurjit Aujla and others visited the spot and talked to NIA officials.

Earlier, Punjab DGP Suresh Arora, DGP (Intelligence) Dinkar Gupta and other police officers briefed the CM about the incident. Capt Amarinder Singh remained at the spot for about five minutes. Immediately after him, the NIA team left the scene.

Police sources said the HG-84 grenade was widely used by army personnel of Pakistan. They said it hinted at the involvement of Pakistan-based anti-national elements, including International Sikh Youth Federation chief Lakhbir Rode and Harmeet Singh alias PhD. The duo had allegedly trained several terror modules busted by the Punjab Police in the recent past.

The NIA are also ascertaining whether the incident was linked to the recent grenade attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, wherein a similar modus operandi was used.

Meanwhile, North India executive committee member, Nirankari Mission, Joginder Kaur and district incharge Sukhdev Singh visited the spot. Condemning the attack, Sukhdev Singh said their peace-loving mission had no enmity with anyone.

In a related development, the Rajasansi police registered an FIR pertaining to the attack under Sections 302 and 307 of the IPC, Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act, Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Explosive Substances Act and Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on the statement of Arjun Singh, who was posted at the entrance gate of the Nirankari Bhavan.

Sect to give Rs 10 lakh to kin of deceased

Chandigarh: The Sant Nirankari Mission on Monday announced Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the deceased. A press note by the mission said a team of executive committee of the Sant Nirankari Mandal would visit the families of the deceased and the injured in Amritsar. Joginder Kaur, regional incharge, said the prayers at all the centres would continue as usual. TNS

Fake sketches surface

Two sketches, purportedly of the persons who lobbed the hand grenade at the congregation, went viral on social media on Monday. However, SSP Parampal Singh said the Punjab Police had not released sketches of the suspects. 

Row over red carpet

The Amritsar administration organised a press interaction with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh near the spot. However, a red carpet laid out at the venue triggered a controversy. When the media flagged the issue, the authorities immediately replaced the red carpet with a green one. Later, the press meet was shifted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.