IEDs used in two low-intensity blasts at Heritage Street near Golden Temple in Amritsar on consecutive days

Holy city Amritsar woke up to another low-intensity blast at Amritsar’s Heritage Street today. This was the second explosion in two days which has left residents panicked and police on toes. The blast was reported around 6.30am today near the same spot it occurred on Saturday midnight. A person reportedly received injuries in leg though police are yet to confirm the same. Police team led by Commissioner Naunihal Singh is on spot along with forensic teams that are picking up the samples for examination.

DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav too has reached the spot. According to sources the investigations so far have revealed that both the blasts were low intensity and were carried out using an IED. A senior police official speaking to Indianarrative.com said that these were low intensity explosives detonated in a container and no detonator was used in both the blasts. The police has so far denied any terrorist angle claiming it seems to be the work of unknown miscreants aiming to create panic. “The investigations are ongoing and we will be able to reveal any further details only after its conclusion. Both the blasts were of low intensity. The situation is normal”, said additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Mehtab Singh.

Sources claim that it was the local sweepers who first witnessed the blast and raised the alarm. They are being questioned now. This second blast in 32 hours has surely left state residents panicked in wake of the recent events in connection with Khalistani separatists. Security has been beefed up at Golden Temple and Heritage Street. A team of bomb disposal squad is on the spot and the entire area is being checked with metal detectors. Police are also reviewing sewerage and gutter lines.

Entire lane from statue of B R Ambedkar to that of Maharaja Ranjit Singh has been cordened off. The police are looking for suspicious articles and while it has refused to reveal anything, sources claimed that they have found some suspicious objects that are being examined by the forensic department.  On Saturday night, a mysterious blast had left six persons including tourists injured and led to panic in the area. It was said that the blast shattered panes of restaurants and shards injured them. Though the FSL report is still awaited, police initially claimed it was a blast in the chimney of a restaurant however CCTV footage recovered from one shop showed the blast happening from the ground.

Also Read: Amritsar’s heritage street rocked by midnight blast, cause being ascertained