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Amritsar blasts: Three of 5 accused are drug addicts, face criminal cases
Three of the five accused arrested in the Amritsar blasts case are drug addicts and already facing criminal cases, police said.
Three of the five accused arrested in the Amritsar blasts case are drug addicts and already facing criminal cases, police officials familiar with the matter said.
Police on Thursday arrested five persons identified as Azad Veer Singh, 36, of Wadala Kala village in Baba Bakala sub- division, Saheb Singh of Gate Hakima area, Dharminder Singh and Harjit Singh, both residents of 88-Feet Road area in Amritsar, and Amrik Singh, 26, of Gurdaspur, hours after the third blast took place near Golden Temple in Amritsar around midnight.
Director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said Azad and Amrik had assembled the explosives while Dharminder, Harjeet and Saheb were held for sourcing and providing the explosives.
In 2021, Azad was booked for hurting religious sentiments of Hindus. Similarly, Amrik was booked for stealing motorcycles in Gurdaspur and Saheb is facing a case under the Explosives Act.
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Deepak Sharma of Chheharta area in Amritsar on whose complaint a blasphemy case was registered against Azad had also informed the police about is suspected Pakistan links.
“Had the police thoroughly investigated the complaint, blasts near the Golden Temple would have been averted,” Deepak said, adding: “We also traced his travel history to Pakistan via Dubai. We repeatedly told the police that he should be interrogated for his Pakistan links, but to no avail.”
Police have also released a picture of Azad, which was taken by him before planting an IED on the rooftop of Saragarhi parking on Heritage Street leading to the Golden Temple.
“Azad was working as a clerk at the Tarn Taran SDM office. He was dismissed from the job after he remained absent for some years. During his absence, he visited Dubai and Pakistan, said Deepak.
Links to Tarn Taran’s village blast being probed
Police are also probing the role of Saheb, who is running a cracker-making establishment at Angarh area of Amritsar, into the Tarn Taran’s Pandoori Gola village blast that took place in September 2019 killing two people and injuring one. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case, said the explosive was procured from the Angarh area.
A senior police official said: “The explosive used in the Pandoori Gola blast was supplied by Saheb’s brother. We are also examining Saheb’s role in the case.”
Saheb was booked under the Explosives Act for allegedly running a cracker-making factory without licence at the Anhgarh area on May 7 – a day after the first blast at Heritage Street.
A senior police official who is part of the investigation said: “Azad and Amrik met while they used to do volunteer service at the Golden Temple. Similarly, Dharminder met Azad at a drug rehabilitation centre situated on the Sultanwind road in Amritsar. Dharminder and Harjit were known to Saheb.”
