Amritsar Police conducted raids near the Golden Temple complex between May 6 and May 10. Five people have been arrested in connection with the three blasts. DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav told that the accused had ordered explosive material from a firecracker businessman in the name of making firecrackers.
The accused wanted to make stone bombs for which they mixed pebbles in the explosives. Soon after, they started preparing stone bombs to explode at three different places.
Azad Veer Singh, the main accused in the case, assembled the IED in the washroom of Sarai (Sarai). There was a bomb blast in the park behind the inn on Wednesday at around 12 noon, after which the police arrested the accused.
Stone bombs were also used in the explosions on 6 and 8 May. These IEDs were kept in a container at the Heritage parking. The arrested accused told the police that on May 6, explosive material was kept in a polythene bag in a container in the parking lot, from which a thick thread was hanging.
After this, at around 4 am on the morning of 8 May, another bomb material was placed in the same parking lot. The arrested people, who are believed to be Khalistani fundamentalists, told the police that they bought the material to make firecrackers and took the trial by putting stones in it.
The police have also recovered 1100 grams of explosive material/chemicals and some radical literature from the possession of the gang members.
Amritsar Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the arrested people have accepted their crime. He was being interrogated to ascertain his links with Khalistani terrorists. Police have also detained a woman, who is being interrogated to ascertain her role in the blasts.
The motive behind the three blasts is not yet clear
DGP Gaurav Yadav said the self-radicalised men wanted to assert themselves. They deliberately chose densely populated areas for the blasts. Access to the Golden Temple complex was easy, as no searches and checks were being conducted.
According to the police, the accused have been arrested on the basis of CCTV footage and location of mobile phones. Refusing to divulge more details about the case, the police officials said that some shocking revelations have come to light in the initial interrogation.
In addition to sections 9B, sections 3, 4, 5 (explosive materials) of the Explosives Act, and sections 13, 16, 18 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, the accused were FIR number 49/2023 was registered under 120B of IPC. The arrested accused also have criminal background. A case under Section 295A has been registered against the main accused Azad Veer Singh at Cheharta police station.