The death toll at an explosion near a Congress rally rose to six, with three children succumbing to injuries, on Wednesday.
Police suspected the use of IED and sought NSG support in a probe into the explosion, triggering a political blame game just days ahead of Assembly polls.
Asked whether there was any input on the possibility of such a blast, the DGP Suresh Arora said, "In the context of Punjab, there is always suspicion that anything could happen. That is why strict security arrangements were done... And now this incident happened."
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has sought a report from Punjab Police on the car explosion.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal condemned the blast and urged people to exercise calm and said those involved in it would be dealt with severely.
15 people were also injured in the blast in Maur Mandi, which occurred shortly after the “jan sabha” of Harminder Singh Jassi, who is contesting from Maur assembly seat, police said.
Jassi, who is a relative of Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was whisked away by his security personnel following the blast.
Can’t Rule Out Terrorism: Police
Eyewitnesses said that the white Maruti 800 car, that was used for the blast, had been parked at the spot for some time. Eyewitnesses said a pressure cooker, filled with iron nails and other metal items, was found lying near the car.
Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora told PTI, “After initial spot inspection, an act of terrorism cannot be rule out. But only experts can establish the cause of the blast”.
As per a preliminary probe, it was a stolen car with the registration number of a two-wheeler. The chassis number of the vehicle was also found removed, police officials said.
“The car has been badly damaged. A burnt pressure cooker was also spotted near the blast site,” police said.
Political Blame Game Begins
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and ruling Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal blamed the Aam Aadmi Party for the incident.
We have been asking the Election Commission to take note of the manner in which AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal is consorting with extremist forces. The bomb blast proves that our apprehensions were correct and that radical elements have infiltrated into Punjab in league with AAPSukhbir Badal
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh termed the blast as a “conspiracy against the Congress, which was set for a landslide victory in the assembly polls”.
“The incident has proved my worst fears that armed criminals and goondas had been let loose by the rival political parties in a desperate bid to scuttle the Congress ride to a sweeping win in the elections,” Singh said.
In response, Kejriwal urged the police to probe Badal’s role in the blast. He tweeted:
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)
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