Grenade attack at Gurdaspur hospital; one held with links to ‘foreign-based handler’

AmritsarUpdated: Jun 3, 2026 04:56 AM IST Outside the hospital in Gurdaspur on Tuesday. (Express Photo)A grenade attack at a private hospital in Gurdaspur on Tuesday shattered windowpanes and glass door of its emergency ward, police said, adding they have arrested the main perpetrator with links to a foreign-based handler. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the breakthrough came within six hours of the incident. “Gurdaspur police and the Counter Intelligence Wing jointly solved the grenade attack case at Kalanaur, Gurdaspur within six hours of the incident. Acting swiftly on technical and human intelligence inputs, the main perpetrator responsible for the attack has been apprehended. Preliminary probe reveals the involvement of a foreign-based handler,” said Yadav.He added that further probe is underway, and both forward and backward linkages are being thoroughly examined to identify and dismantle the entire network behind the attack. Gurdaspur SSP Aditya identified the accused as Dharminder alias ‘Tindi’ (24), from Tarn Taran. He was earlier booked in cases registered under the NDPS Act. Asked about the motive, the SSP said investigators are questioning the accused and technical checks are being made to establish why the attack was carried out and whether it was intended to spread fear or to extort money. Kalanaur police station received information about a loud sound at Multani Hospital, located near the bus stand area, around 2.40 pm. “Police team found shattered glass at the spot. Forensic teams collected the evidence,” the SSP said. In CCTV footage, a suspicious man could be seen standing near the hospital. The doctor who operates the hospital told police that he had been receiving extortion calls for the past year and that he had been provided security. The SSP said those calls had been acted upon by police and action was taken. Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa termed the “explosion” as extremely worrying and demanded a probe. “According to the information received so far, this was a grenade attack; if this information is correct, then it is not just a matter of negligence in security, but also raises a big question on the security of sensitive places related to people’s lives.” Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Kh