Punjab: Blast in Bathinda's Maur Mandi near rally of Congress candidate; 3 dead, 15 injured

Maur Mandi: At three persons died on Tuesday in an explosion in Bathinda's Maur Mandi.

The explosion took place in a car, confirmed SDM Latif Ahmed.

Reportedly, the powerful blast took place near a rally of a Congress candidate.

At least 15 people were reported to be injured in the blast where Congress candidate Harminder Jassi was addressing a gathering at that time, news agency IANS reported.

They were rushed to hospitals in Maur Mandi and Bathinda.

Jassi, who is the son-in-law of Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was whisked away by his security personnel following the blast.

Eyewitnesses said that the white Maruti 800 car, in which the blast took place, was parked at the spot for some time and no one removed it despite police making announcements to get it removed.

Some alleged that a few shots were also fired towards Jassi's car.

The eyewitnesses said that a pressure cooker, filled with iron nails and other metallic things, was found lying near the car.

The car, in which the blast took place, was completely destroyed in the incident.

Police officials rushed to the spot and were investigating the incident. They did not rule out conspiracy behind the incident.

The incident came days before polling in the assembly elections, slated for February 4.