Lok Sabha Question No. 139 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-11
Subject: Terror Attack in Amritsar
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: P.R. SUNDARAM, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, S. RAJENDRAN, SUDHEER GUPTA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.139

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH  DECEMBER, 2018/ AGRAHAYANA 20, 1940 (SAKA)

## TERROR ATTACK IN AMRITSAR

## 139.  SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI S. RAJENDRAN:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a terror attack on a religious gathering in Amritsar, Punjab had taken  place  recently,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  alongwith  the  number  of people killed and injured in the incident;
- (b) the details of the compensation paid to the families of the killed/injured personnel;
- (c)  whether  foreign  based  terrorists  are  again  trying  to  revive  terrorist activities in Punjab State;
- (d)  if  so,  the  steps  taken by the Government to take action against such elements based in Canada and other countries;
- (e)  whether  the  National  Investigation  Agency  (NIA)  has  conducted  any inquiry in the matter and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)  the  steps  taken  to  check  recurrence  of  such  attacks  alongwith  the measures  taken  for  better  co-ordination  amongst  the  security  agencies and  to  strengthen  the  border  security  so  as  to  check  infiltration  of terrorists in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a): A  grenade  attack  at  a  prayer  hall  in  Adliwal  Village,  PS  Rajasansi, Amritsar took place on 18 th  November, 2018.  03 persons were killed and 23 persons were injured in this grenade attack.

(b): The Government of Punjab has announced payment of a sum of Rs. 5 lakhs each to the next of kin of the persons who have lost their life and Rs. 50,000/- each to the inured persons in the attack.

(c) & (d): As  per  available  information,  the  activities  of  pro-Khalistan individuals  and  organizations  based  abroad,  which  are  making  efforts  to revive terrorism in Punjab and fanning anti-India sentiments, have come to notice.    The  Government  has  raised  the  issue  with  Canada  and  other countries during various bilateral meetings.

(e): After the grenade attack incident, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team visited the place of incident on 18 th  November, 2018 to assist the State Police in investigation.

(f): In order to avert terror incidents in the country, there exists a close and effective coordination between intelligence and security agencies at the Centre and the State level.  The Multi Agency Centre (MAC) has been strengthened  and  re-organized  to  enable it to function on 24x7  basis  for

## L.S.US.Q.NO.139 FOR 11.12.2018

real  time  collation  and  sharing  of  intelligence  with  other  Intelligence Agencies  and  State  Governments.    The  border  control  has  also  been strengthened through establishment of observation posts, border fencing, flood lighting and deployment of modern /hi-tech equipments. States have also  raised  special  forces  to  deal  with  terror  incidents.    Central  Armed Police  Forces  and  National  Security  Guards  have  also  been  stationed  at different locations to assist the States in dealing with such incidents.

********