Man Attempts to Shoot Sukhbir Badal at Golden Temple in Amritsar, Arrested

A man fired at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal outside Golden Temple in Amritsar today morning.

Badal was unhurt as he was performing guard duty as a punishment as part of his religious rituals at that time.

The shooter, identified as Narayan Singh Chaura, was overpowered by the bystanders and arrested by the police.

The shooter is Narain Singh Chaura, a former militant who has many cases against him and is underground. Chaura is from Dera Baba Nanak area.

Also Read: 5.3-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Telangana; Hyderabad Feels Strong Tremors

He was also seen near Sukhbir Badal on Tuesday at the same place in white kurta-pyjama.

At the time of the incident, Narain Singh Chaura was standing close to Sukhbir Singh Badal. When he fired at Sukhbir Badal, a ‘sewadar’ standing nearby pushed his hand towards him, saving the SAD leader.

Chaura is said to be the mastermind of Burail jail break of 2004. Chaura had helped pro-Khalistani outfit Babbar Khalsa International terrorists Jagtar Singh Hawara, Paramjit Singh Bheora along with their two accomplices Jagtar Singh Tara and Devi Singh to escape from the Burail jail. He had switched off the electricity supply of the jail.

“SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was sitting by the Guru Ram Das Dwar as 'Chowkidar'. Bullet was fired in his direction...I thank Guru Nanak that he saved his 'sevak' This is a huge incident, what era is Punjab being pushed into?” SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema.

He attacked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government and said, "I would like to ask the CM of Punjab [Bhagwant Mann], where do you want to take Punjab?...The attacker was caught on the spot. I also thank the security personnel here. Had they not acted promptly...There should be a high-level judicial enquiry into the incident...We will continue with our 'seva'"

Also Read: Maharashtra CM Face to Be Revealed After Key BJP Meeting Today: What’s Next?

Badal, 62, was performing his duties as part of the religious punishment, ‘tankhah’, imposed by Akal Takht for the mistakes committed during SAD’s rule in Punjab from 2007 to 2017. As part of the punishment, Badal and several Akali Dal leaders have to do various acts of service like cleaning toilets, serving in the langar, reciting prayers etc.

Pronouncing the 'tankhah' (religious punishment) for Badal and other leaders for the "mistakes" committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017, the Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht on Monday directed the senior Akali leader to serve as a 'sewadar', and wash dishes and clean shoes at the Golden Temple.

Also Read: Indian Envoy Stresses Broader Ties After Meeting Bangladesh Foreign Secretary