The Punjab Police have detained a few people having links to separatist organisations in connection with Sunday's grenade attack on a prayer meeting of the Nirankari sect in Amritsar, police sources said on Tuesday.
The Sikh activists were detained in raids conducted by various teams of the state police at different places, including in Amritsar and Bathinda districts.
The police have not, however, officially confirmed or denied the detentions.
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Suresh Arora had earlier said that a "local hand" could be behind the grenade attack.
Three persons were killed and 20 injured when two motorcycle-borne youths threw a grenade at a religious congregation in Adliwal village in Rajasansi area, about 15 km from Amritsar, on Sunday.
According to information, Dal Khalsa member Gurjant Singh was taken in custody.
The police also raided the house of Sikh Youth of Punjab president Paramjit Singh Mand, but he was away. According to information, his family was told to convey him to report at the police station in Mand instantly.
Ranjit Singh Damdami Taksal, who is associated with Sikh Students Federation, said the police also visited his house.
Expressing grief over the loss of lives in the attack, Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh Bittu said ‘witch-hunting’ had been started by the police. “Besides, Paramjit Singh Akali, another Sikh activist, was also approached by the police but since he was not keeping well he was also told to report at the police station concerned for investigation,” he said.
He said the police and investigative agencies should probe the attack thoroughly without any prejudice and not see it only from the prism of the Sikh-Nirankari clash of 1978.
He appealed to leaders of all parties to act responsibly and refrain from accusations.
“It’s just a repeat of the police action in the ’80s and early ’90s. We do not mind questioning by the police, but the way they are behaving is absurd. Police can summon them for questioning, but it’s not proper that dozens of policemen raid their houses in the wee hours just because they hold different views,” he said.
All victims were sect followers from nearby villages who had gathered for the weekly religious meeting.
Police officials told IANS that various leads were being followed in the grenade attack case to nab the culprits.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said the attack seemingly carried "Pakistan's signature", with initial probe indicating the grenade used was similar to the ones being manufactured by the Pakistani Army Ordinance factory.
"Prima facie, this appears to be an act of terror by separatist forces, organised with the involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terrorist groups.
"My government has taken serious note of the incident and is aggressively pursuing all angles of investigation," he said.
He also announced Rs 50 lakh as reward for any information leading to the arrest of the assailants.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and forensic experts were helping in the investigations.
The Chief Minister has said Sunday's attack was a clear case of terrorism and there was no religious connection to it.
