3 killed in Maur Mandi car blast

Gurdeep Singh Mann

Tribune News Service

Maur (Bathinda), January 31

Three persons were killed and 11 seriously injured in a car blast in Maur Mandi late this evening as soon as Congress candidate from Bathinda (Urban) Harminder Jassi had ended his election rally. Jassi, a relative of the controversial Sirsa-based dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, escaped with minor bruises. He was in a Toyota Fortuner. 

The vacant car, a Maruti Alto, bore a false registration number. It was thrown up into the air up to 15-20 ft and fell, injuring at least 11 persons. The explosion occurred barely 5-10 metres from where Jassi had addressed the rally outside the Congress party office. 

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The police said Congress office in-charge at Maur Mandi, Harpal Singh Pali, was among the dead. The injured were rushed to Bathinda and Ludhiana hospitals. Local residents claimed they heard three blasts followed by gunshots immediately after Jassi had winded up the rally. Jassi's driver Vicky called it a “planned attack.” Shrapnels and bolts were found inside a pressure cooker used in the blast. Police officials did not rule out the use of RDX. 

“The moment I heard the blast, I pressed the accelerator of the Toyota Fortuner. By then I heard two more blasts,” Vicky claimed. The police found five cartridges and a Bullet motorcycle at the site. Agitated locals and Congress workers raised slogans against the police for laxity.

Meanwhile, a report has been sent to the Election Commission. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has expressed grief over the deaths.