AMRITSAR, Dec 4: A gunman attempted to shoot Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal outside the Golden Temple on Wednesday morning. Badal, who was performing guard duty as part of a religious punishment, escaped unhurt due to a quick intervention by a nearby sewadar.
The attacker, identified as Narayan Singh Chaura, a former militant, was overpowered by bystanders and arrested by the police shortly after the incident. Chaura, a resident of Dera Baba Nanak, is reportedly connected to the 2004 Burail jailbreak, which saw the escape of Babbar Khalsa International terrorists. He attempted to shoot Badal while the leader was seated in a wheelchair, wearing a blue ‘sewadar’ uniform and holding a spear as part of the Akal Takht’s imposition of religious punishment, or ‘tankhah,’ for mistakes made during the SAD’s rule from 2007 to 2017.
The punishment, which Badal had publicly admitted included controversial decisions such as pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2007 blasphemy case, involved several Akali leaders performing acts of service, including cleaning toilets and reciting prayers. Badal, due to his health, had been assigned to serve as a gatekeeper for two days.
Eyewitnesses reported that the gunman drew his weapon as he approached Badal, but the sewadar swiftly intervened, pushing Chaura’s hand upwards and preventing the bullet from hitting the SAD leader. The shocking incident has raised concerns about security at the Golden Temple, one of the holiest Sikh shrines.
SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema condemned the attack and criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government for its inability to maintain law and order. He expressed gratitude to Guru Nanak for sparing Badal’s life and called the attack a reflection of the deteriorating security situation under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration.
Authorities have launched an investigation into Chaura’s motives and any potential connections to extremist groups, while the incident has prompted calls for enhanced security measures in the region.
