Punjab reports third blast in a week; five arrested

A second blast in 36 hours rocked the area around the Sikh holy site of the Golden Temple in India's Amritsar city on May 8. Photo: PTI

Amritsar: A low-intensity explosion occurred behind the Guru Ramdas Niwas building near the Golden Temple on Wednesday midnight, said police. Punjab Police chief said five people have been arrested in connection with the explosions that took place this week.

The latest blast, which is the third one in a week, occurred on Wednesday midnight behind the Guru Ramdas Niwas building, police said.

Amritsar Police Commissioner Naunihal Singh had earlier said that police were informed around midnight that 'a loud sound' had been heard.

"It is suspected that another explosion has taken place," Singh told reporters, adding that a forensic team has reached the spot and the whole area has been sealed.

As part of the precautionary measures, we are rounding up suspects; an investigation is underway, the Amritsar Police Commissioner said.

Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, in a tweet, said: "Amritsar low-intensity explosion cases solved. Five persons arrested."

A low-intensity explosion took place on a heritage street near the Golden Temple on May 6. The second one occurred in the area in less than 30 hours after the first blast.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Harjinder Singh Dhami on Thursday accused the state of being a 'total failure' in preventing such incidents.

Referring to the previous two blasts, he said such matters should not have been taken lightly.

"I can say that it is a total failure of the government. Had it been investigated indepth, last night's incident would not have taken place," the SGPC chief said suspecting a conspiracy behind these incidents. 

(With PTI inputs)

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