AMRITSAR – A blast at a religious ceremony in India’s Punjab state Sundaykilled at least three people and injured 10, police said.

Media reports said two armed men on a motorcycle forced their way into abuilding where the Nirankari spiritual group was meeting.

They brandished a pistol at a woman at the gate before throwing a handgrenade at the crowd, the Tribune newspaper said.

Police did not immediately confirm the media accounts of the attack inAmritsar district, which came just ahead of a major Sikh festival on Friday.

“Three people have been killed and 10 people are injured. We are trying togather more information,” senior police officer Surinder Pal Singh Parmartold reporters.

Nirankari followers are at odds with many Sikhs who dominate in Punjab andconsider the group heretics.