CHANDIGARH: Another low-intensity blast occurred near Sikhism's holiest shrine, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, on Thursday. May 11, It is the third explosion in less than a week.
Within hours of the blast, 5 conspirators were detained from near the spot and the police said that they belonged to a module that was responsible all 3 explosions in which firecracker explosives were used. A woman, the wife of one of the suspects, has also been arrested, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav told the media in Amritsar.
The accused namely Azadvir Singh, Sahib Singh, Amreek Singh, Harjeet Singh and Dharmendra Singh have confessed the crime. 3 of them were involved in the sourcing of the explosives.
CCTV footages proved that one of the accused allegedly threw the bomb from the 2nd floor of Guru Ramdas Serai into 'galiara', or the pathway around the Golden Temple. Yadav thanked the Shriomani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee task force for enabling the arrest of the accused.
"In the first breakthrough, five people have been booked. We have formed the Special Investigating Team to conduct in-depth and scientific investigation to uncover the conspiracy behind the explosions and also to reveal the accused's links both within India and abroad," Yadav, who specially reached the spot from Chandigarh, to have first-hand information about the crime. He said the accused had utilized energy drink cans and metallic tiffins to contain the explosive material.
The popular Heritage Street leading to the Golden Temple was shaken by the first two explosions. The first occurred at midnight on May 6 and the second early on May 8.
1.5 kilometres separate the first two explosions and the third explosion. In the initial explosion, one person was hurt and building glass facades were broken.
"This is a subject of investigation, whether they (the accused) are self-radicalized or influenced by some module. The three explosions were all caused by this module. They admitted to the crime as well. They were responsible for the explosions, according to CCTV footage, their mobile locations, and other evidence, Yadav said.
He explained their motivation for setting off explosions near the venerated sanctuary as follows: "If something happens in Darbar Sahib (the Golden sanctuary), it makes news. We'll investigate the purpose behind the explosions. According to SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, based on CCTV evidence, the organization's security officials apprehended three suspects, including a couple, who were residing in Guru Ramdas Serai.
Amritsar: Two blasts in two consecutive days near Golden Temple
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