NEW DELHI: A man opened fire at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday morning at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Badal, who was in a wheelchair due to a fractured leg, was serving a punishment in the temple's entrance. The assailant, identified as Narayan Singh Chaura, was quickly apprehended by police.


Sukhbir Singh Badal at Golden Temple
Former Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, undergoing religious penance at the Golden Temple, was sitting at the entrance on Wednesday morning as part of his religious punishment, wearing a blue 'sewadar' uniform.

Religious punishment pronounced by Akal Takht
The religious penance, known as 'tankhah,' was announced by Akal Takht for Badal’s alleged misconduct during his tenure from 2007 to 2017, including decisions linked to religious controversies.

Assailant approaches Sukhbir
As Badal sat with a pla card around his neck, a man, later identified as Narayan Singh Chaura, approached him and opened fire.

Security arrangements in place
Despite the shooting attempt, security personnel, including sewadar volunteers, overpowerd the attacker. ADCP Harpal Singh confirmed that no one was injured in the attack.
Swift intervention by sewadar
An alert sewadar, believed to be an Akali leader’s volunteer, quickly intervened, pushing the assailant’s arm upward as he attempted to fire, causing the bullet to discharge harmlessly into the sky.

Assailant overpowered
The shooter was immediately overpowered by people present at the scene, including sewadar volunteers, and was captured on the spot.

Badal’s calm response
Despite the attack, Sukhbir Singh Badal, seated in a wheelchair due to a hairline fracture, remained calm and continued performing his duties as a sewadar, holding a spear.
The religious atonement had been pronounced on December 2 by Sikh high priests for Sukhbir and other Akali leaders concerning incidents of sacrilege and the pardon granted to the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
The religious punishment for Badal, issued in connection with his controversial actions during his time in office, was part of an ongoing reconciliation process led by Sikh high priests to address perceived sacrilege and grievances within the community.