Punjab Police Kill Amritsar Temple Attack Accused in Encounter; Kejriwal Warns Anti-National Forces

New Delhi, March 17, 2025– A key suspect in the Amritsar Thakurdwara temple grenade attack was killed in a police encounter on Monday, prompting a strong warning from Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Kejriwal declared that those attempting to disrupt peace in Punjab would face severe consequences.

Kejriwal Vows to Protect Punjab’s Stability
In a post on X, Kejriwal condemned the attack and assured that Punjab will not tolerate any attempts to destabilize the state.
“Those who try to disturb the peace of Punjab will not be spared. Punjab has waged a war against drugs and gangsters. This has infuriated anti-national forces and Pakistani supporters. They want to spoil the atmosphere in Punjab. The people of Punjab will not allow this to happen at all,” Kejriwal wrote.
Kejriwal highlighted that Punjab’s aggressive stance against drugs and gangsters has provoked opposition from hostile forces. He assured that the state government remains committed to maintaining peace.

Punjab Police’s ‘Bullet for Bullet’ Policy Explained
Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav defended the police’s response, describing the “bullet for bullet” approach as a self-defence policy, not aggression.
“Our effort is to work within the parameters of law and carry out a professional investigation and get the accused punished through the courts. When we face firing, we retaliate in self-defence. ‘Bullet for bullet’ is not an aggressive policy. It is a policy of self-defence. If the police are attacked, they will respond,” Yadav said.
Yadav also underscored the growing problem of heroin and synthetic drugs being smuggled across the border. He confirmed that Punjab Police had recently busted several drug rackets and stressed the importance of rehabilitating drug victims.

Details of the Encounter
The encounter unfolded in the Rajasansi area of Amritsar after police received specific intelligence about the suspects’ movements. When a police team attempted to intercept them, the suspects opened fire, injuring two officers.
Head Constable Gurpreet Singh suffered injuries, while a bullet struck the turban of Inspector Amolak Singh. Acting in self-defence, Inspector Vinod Kumar returned fire, critically injuring the main accused. The suspect, identified as Gursidak, son of Jagjit Singh from Bal village in Amritsar, was rushed to the Civil Hospital, where he later died.
The second suspect, identified as Vishal, son of Raju from Rajasansi, managed to escape. Police have launched a manhunt to apprehend him.
DGP Yadav confirmed that an FIR has been registered under the Explosive Substances Act at PS Chheharta. A fresh case is also being filed at PS Airport regarding the encounter.

Temple Attack Investigation Continues
The grenade attack on Thakurdwara temple occurred on the night of March 14 when two masked men on a motorcycle were caught on CCTV throwing an object at the temple. The explosion caused panic but no casualties.
Punjab Police remains on high alert, working to dismantle networks linked to cross-border smuggling and extremist activity. DGP Yadav reaffirmed that Punjab Police is committed to ensuring peace and harmony in the state.