Radicalised individuals, Azadvir Singh, resident of Amritsar and Amrik Singh from Gurdaspur were on the prowl looking for an opportunity to disturb peace and attract attention. However, their plans were thwarted after the third attempt to carry out low-intensity explosions in Punjab led to the busting of the module by the Punjab police. In connection with the explosions, five people were arrested on Thursday.
The three low-intensity explosions that took place near Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab between May 6 and May 11 were allegedly the handiwork of this module which was radical in nature with one of the members getting on the wrong side of the law in the recent past for ''outraging religious sentiments''.
The motive behind the triple explosions are learnt to be persistent grievances against the state, alleged atrocities against the community, extremist thoughts and symbolism to gather maximum eyeballs.
Azadvir threw the bomb and Amrik helped to assemble it after they purchased the potash, explosive material used in the three blasts, from a licenced fire cracker dealer in Punjab.
Three explosions near Golden Temple within a week had raised alarm prompting the counter intelligence unit to camp at Amritsar. Senior officers repeatedly visited the blast sites for clues and scouting for the conspirators who were at large after they carried out the first blast at Saragarhi parking near Golden Temple on May 6, using explosive material in a soda can.
There was neither a detonator nor high intensity explosive material used to carry out the explosion. Forensic teams found traces of potash that did not cause much damage, but police sources said the perpetrators were successful in sending a message that all was not well in the border state.
In the last few months, Punjab has witnessed a rise in extremist sentiment as it has seen gatherings of radical youth, violence and unlawful activities, especially under the banner of Waris Punjab De led by Amritpal Singh which finally culminated in a major crackdown and arrests of several persons, including Amritpal.
But so far the three incidents are not directly linked to a fall out of the Amritpal episode, rather being seen as the outcome of a growing sense of alienation among the youth and radicalised individuals coming out into the open to make a symbolic statement that the pro-Khalistan sentiment wasn't dead in Punjab yet.
Whether there was any incitement by proscribed outfits or extremist leaders under lens of the Punjab police and central agencies or these individuals got self radicalised by accessing radical literature using social media as well as pro-Khalistan extremist ideology propagated by groups based outside the country is a matter of further investigation.
Sources said the first explosion at Saragarhi parking was followed by another on May 8 while the third incident took place near Guru Ramdas ji Niwas on May 11, where the explosive was learnt to be kept in a small bowl. The perpetrators Azadvir and Amrik were assisted by one Dharminder, a licenced fire cracker dealer; Harjit and Sahib Singh from Amritsar. Amrik's wife was also questioned by the police but not much has come out against her so far.
Sources said Azadvir and Amrik came to Amritsar on May 2. Azad is learnt to have provided a room to Amrik and his wife at Guru Ramdas Niwas near the langar hall. Azadvir himself stayed at Baba Jeewan Singh Sarai for two days before returning to Ramdas Niwas.
The potash was procured from Dharminder, who was known to Azad, and paid him around Rs 3,000 for it, sources said. Dharminder was asked to teach the duo how to use the potash in the crude bombs as Azad and Amrik did not have the skill set, sources said. While Dharminder may not be privy to the entire conspiracy, he roped in two other close associates Sahib Singh and Harjit in the entire operation. With the busting of the module, the Punjab police is heaving a sign of relief hoping that the case is solved and keeping it's fingers crossed on parallel modules propping up with deliberate designs to spread the extremist sentiment.