Amritsar: Three killed, many injured in a blast, Rajnath assures strong action 

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, assuring "strong action" against those responsible for a grenade attack at a religious gathering on Nirankaris in Amritsar which killed three people.

Calling the Sunday attack a "reprehensible act of violence", the Minister expressed deep anguish over the death of innocents who were Nirankari sect followers from nearby villages and had gathered for the weekly religious meeting.

"My condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this attack and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. Spoke to the Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinderji, who has apprised me of the situation in the wake of the grenade attack in Amritsar. Strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime," the Minister tweeted.

At least three people were killed and 10 others injured on Sunday when a grenade exploded after it was flung at a religious gathering in Punjab's Amritsar district, police said.

Two youths, their faces covered, rode to the venue of the Nirankari sect's congregation in Rajasansi area, lobbed the grenade and escaped, a police officer said. There were around 500 people at the venue.

The attack came amid a high alert issued by the Punjab Police that six-seven terrorists had entered the state.

“Some incident of grenade throwing has reportedly taken place, police force have been rushed to the spot,” said Inspector General of Police (Border Range) SPS Parmar, The Times of India quoted him as saying.

According to The Hindustan Times, Deputy commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha has confirmed the death of three people and said one of the injured is in critical condition.