Former Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Badal, was shot at while standing guard outside the Golden Temple following “punishment” imposed by the Akal Takht.
Sukhbir Badal, Ex-Shiromani Akali Dal President (2007-2017) and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, survived an attempted assassination at the gates of the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday (4 December 2024) morning.
The incident took place as Badal and other leaders under the punishment imposed by the Akal Takht performed “seva”
The Attempted Assassination
Image Credits: Hindustan Times
The accused is Narain Singh Chaura, a former fighter of the Khalistan Liberation Army, which is no longer operational.
Chaura was overpowered and arrested over the attempted shooting. He managed to fire another bullet from his weapon before being apprehended, but it missed the ex-SAD President, who has Z+ security.
ADCP, Amritsar Rural, Harpal Singh said, “We have deployed security nearby. During this time, an individual attempted to create a disturbance but was unsuccessful. The accused has been taken into custody. Only after interrogation will we know the motive behind his actions.”
Chaura, who had previously been convicted under the Arms Act in 2004, was released from prison in 2018 and has subsequently worked with groups such as Dal Khalsa. There are almost 20 cases against Narain Singh Chaura.
Penance
After the incident, Sukhbir Badal resumed performing his Seva. As part of his religious penance, he went to the Kirtan and washed the utensils after the Langar before leaving the Golden Temple.
The former Deputy Chief Minister is set to begin Seva at Takht Damdama Sahib on Thursday.
The Opposition
The assassination attempt has led the ruling party, the Aam Aadmi Party, to face criticism. Opposition parties such as the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Congress, and the Bharatiya Janta Party have questioned the law and order situation in the state of Punjab. Despite the criticism, the AAP proceeded to pat the Punjab Police “for foiling a deep-rooted conspiracy to defame Punjab.”
Whilst in a press conference, the Chief Minister condemned the act, stating that he is keeping tabs in the situation and has directed security personnel to maintain the highest level of vigil against anti-social elements. He also mentioned that the Director General of Police has been asked to conduct a thorough probe into the matter.
