Man attempts to shoot Sukhbir Singh Badal at Golden Temple | Watch

Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), was the target of an assassination attempt outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The assailant, identified as Narain Singh Chaura, fired a shot at Badal while he was performing religious duties as part of a religious punishment (tankhah). Badal, who is currently using a wheelchair due to a fractured leg, was unharmed after the shot missed its target. The bullet struck the wall behind Badal after a sewadar nearby managed to intervene and push the attacker’s hand away.

Badal was seated at the entrance of the Golden Temple, where he was performing the duty of a 'sewadar' (volunteer) as part of the penance imposed on him by the Akal Takht. This punishment, which was ordered following the SAD government's tenure in Punjab from 2007 to 2017, involves tasks such as serving in the community kitchen (langar), cleaning toilets, and reciting religious prayers. As part of the religious punishment, Badal was also required to wear a placard around his neck acknowledging the “mistakes” committed by him and his party during their time in office.

Narain Singh Chaura, the alleged assailant, hails from Dera Baba Nanak. He is reported to have been involved in criminal activities, including his alleged role in the 2004 Burail jailbreak, which saw pro-Khalistani militants escape from jail. Chaura is said to have turned off the electricity supply to the Burail jail to facilitate the escape of militants. Chaura had been underground for several years and had remained a wanted individual in multiple cases. On Tuesday, he was seen near the Golden Temple in a white kurta-pyjama before attempting the attack on Wednesday.

The shooting occurred when Chaura slowly approached Badal and pulled out a gun to fire at him. A sewadar standing nearby acted swiftly to prevent the attack by pushing Chaura’s hand upward, causing the bullet to miss Badal. The police swiftly intervened, apprehending the attacker on the spot. Chaura is now in police custody, and an investigation is underway to determine his motives and whether he had any accomplices.

Sukhbir Badal’s religious punishment follows his admission of mistakes committed during the SAD-led government’s rule in Punjab. One of the key incidents that led to his religious sentence was his decision to pardon Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in 2007, a controversial move that led to significant criticism from Sikh religious groups. Other SAD leaders, including Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Bikram Singh Majithia, are also serving similar penance for their roles in the party’s governance during that period.

Following the incident, there has been no official statement from the Akal Takht regarding the security breach. However, the local police have initiated a thorough investigation into the matter. Security measures around the Golden Temple and other key religious sites in Amritsar are expected to be reviewed and enhanced as part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of prominent public figures and religious leaders.

Sukhbir Singh Badal narrowly escapes an assassination attempt outside Golden Temple in #Amritsar. Shooter Narain Singh Chaura fired at him, but a quick-thinking sewadar intervened. Attacker arrested, investigation underway.#SukhbirBadal #GoldenTemple #Punjab #SAD #AkalTakht pic.twitter.com/w8bfYM43rm

— Taaza TV (@taazatv) December 4, 2024