Another black day traumatises holy city

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 18

Already traumatised since the October 19 train mishap that snuffed out 59 lives, the city was in for another shock on Sunday. Trauma was clearly visible on the faces of the followers who were inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Rajasansi where a hand grenade blast killed three and left 22 persons injured on Sunday.

Most of them were tight-lipped on the incident. Elderly were seen scared and worried. The media was not allowed inside the bhavan as the followers urged the journalists not to shoot or click pictures.

After nearly two hours, when people starting coming out, they didn’t speak with media.

The explosion left everybody shocked in Adliwal village. The area where the bhavan is located has only a few residences nearby.

Gurpyar Singh, who lives in his house a few metres away from the Nirankari Bhavan, said that he was working in his house when he heard the blast. “I came out and saw people running hither and thither. People in the nearby houses rushed towards the spot and initiated the rescue operation. They shifted the injured to a nearby private hospital,” he said.

A crater was formed at the site where the blast took place, near the stage. He said blood stains were all over there. It was very disturbing scene there, he said Gurpyar.

Bachitar Singh, another resident, said he was working in his fields outside his house when the blast occurred. I rushed to the spot to get to know what had happened. People said two motorcycle-borne youths lobbed grenade at the followers holding congregation. He said it happened for the first time at the building. He said people had been conducting congregation at the spot for the past many years and never has such an attack occurred. He said the police should have made appropriate security arrangements.

Three persons have died while as many as 22 injured in the incident which is being looked as a terror attack by the police.

Gurbaz Singh, who sustained an injury on one of his hands, said he was near the stage and his son Navdeep was to sing a prayer. “His name had been announced and he had to sing hymns after another woman follower’s turn. Suddenly, I saw something being lobbed and then a blast. There were cries and people rushing for safety,” said Gurbaz, whose wife also sustained injuries in the incident.

Another follower, Pal Singh, said he came to attend the satsang on each Sunday. “I was sitting in the satsang when a youth hurled something and ran away. Next thing was blast and smoke. There blood stains and people running for their lives,” he said.

Nearly 200 devotees were attending the religious congregation at the Nirankari Bhavan at that time.