Two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly hurled two hand grenades at a house at Jatta village in Amritsar’s Ajnala sub-division on Thursday night, leaving three family members injured.
Police suspect the attack, which also left the house and a car damaged, was executed at the behest of gangster-turned-terrorist Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, over a personal rivalry with Jaspal Singh, the complainant.
DIG (Border Range) Harmanbir Singh Gill said, “The family, which was targeted in the attack, has an old enmity with Happy Passia over the sarpanch elections. The family had an altercation with Passia’s sister during a fair three days ago. We have launched a probe and will trace the assailants and conspirators soon.”
The incident took place around 8.20 pm when the family was at home in Jatta village, located around 1.5 km from the India-Pakistan international border. The assailants allegedly hurled the grenades one after another—one in the verandah and the other in the courtyard near the main gate, where a car was parked.
“Around 8.20 pm, I had just asked the children to go inside after dinner when I suddenly heard a loud sound and bright light in the verandah. Initially, I assumed some glitch in the AC’s outdoor unit. Then I saw the second blast in the courtyard and realised we were being attacked,” said Jaspal, who suffered injuries to his right leg, foot, abdomen and hand.
Jaspal’s sister Baljit Kaur, who was preparing food in the courtyard, and his wife also sustained shrapnel injuries, while other family members inside the house had a narrow escape. The explosions and the motorcycle-borne assailants were captured in CCTV cameras in the area, said investigators.
{{/usCountry}}Jaspal’s sister Baljit Kaur, who was preparing food in the courtyard, and his wife also sustained shrapnel injuries, while other family members inside the house had a narrow escape. The explosions and the motorcycle-borne assailants were captured in CCTV cameras in the area, said investigators.
{{/usCountry}}According to villagers, an army vehicle was passing through the road when the incident occurred. The army personnel stopped and examined the spot, and collected explosive material before police and forensic teams arrived.
Superintendent of police (Detective) Ramandeep Singh said, “We are waiting for the forensic report to ascertain the nature of the explosive used. The matter is being investigated from all angles. An FIR has been registered under relevant sections at the Ramdas police station.”
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia accused the police of reaching the spot late, noting that the army arrived first. Reacting to the attack, Majithia said in a social media post, “Now even homes in Punjab are no longer safe...First, police stations were targeted; now people’s homes are being attacked.”