CHANDIGARH: A hand grenade explosion at the Thakurdwara temple in Amritsar’s Khandwala locality early on Friday has increased security worries in Punjab. Two unknown attackers on a motorcycle threw the grenade at about 12:35 am, and the explosion left the wall of the temple partially damaged but with no one hurt. The priest of the temple and his family members, who were present in the temple at the time of the attack, remained unharmed.
CCTV footage showed the attackers pausing outside the temple before launching the attack. The police have started a thorough probe and are scrutinizing potential leads, including one that connects to Pakistan. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Bhullar said such incidents have been attributed to Pakistan’s efforts to destabilize Punjab.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also suggested foreign interference, referencing repeated efforts to disrupt the state’s tranquility. He attributed the attack to larger security issues, such as drone activity from the other side of the border. Mann ensured that Punjab Police is adequately equipped and proactive in dealing with such threats. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring called the attack shocking and expressed fears over the current mood of fear. He called for urgent action from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and increased security at police stations to avoid further incidents. This attack is an important deviation in the trend of attacks. This is the 12th grenade attack in Punjab over the last four months, and most such attacks earlier had been directed at police complexes. The attack at a religious institution has put forth concerns regarding shifting security threats to the state.
Recent attacks with grenades in Punjab:
March 14-15, 2025: Thakurdwara Mandir, Khandwala, Amritsar. February 22, 2025: Babbar Khalsa International asserted a grenade attack on a BSF camp at Attari Road in Amritsar, although BSF rejected it. February 3, 2025: Blast outside a non-functional police chowki near the Fatehgarh Churian bypass in Amritsar. January 16, 2025: Congress leader’s residence, Batala. January 15, 2025: Liquor trader’s house, Jaintipur, Amritsar. January 9, 2025: Gumtala police post, Amritsar. December 20, 2024: Wadala Bangar police post, GurdaspurDecember 17, 2024: Islamabad police station, Amritsar. December 12, 2024: Ghania Ke Bangar police station, Batala (Gurdaspur district).
November 2024 – February 2025: There are reports of 10 blasts outside police facilities in Punjab, adding to the total.