Sukhbir Singh Badal had recently announced his decision to step down as SAD president. He was the deputy chief minister of Punjab from August 2009 to March 2017.
A day after he narrowly escaped an assassiantion attempt at the Golden Temple, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal arrived at Takhat Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib under heavy security to perform ‘seva’ for “mistakes” committed by the SAD government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017. Badal was attacked by a former Khalistani terrorist from a close range at the Golden Temple’s entrance but missed as plainclothes policemen overpowered him.
The audacious attack occurred at around 9:30 am, on the second day of Badal performing the duty of ‘sewadar’.
The shooter, identified as former terrorist Narain Singh Chaura, slowly walked towards Badal (62), a Z+ protectee who was sitting in a wheelchair due to a fractured leg, and pulled out a gun from his pocket, several videos of the incident showed.
Chaura, 68, was seen at the shrine on Tuesday as well.
#WATCH | Punjab: #ShiromaniAkaliDal leader #SukhbirSinghBadal visits Takhat Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib to perform ‘seva.’ Security has been tightened at the Gurudwara. pic.twitter.com/yTsGwdS6Q7
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) December 5, 2024
“Narain Singh Chaura was spotted in CCTV camera a day before of the attack in the premises of Golden temple. He used to visit temple frequently. We are checking whether he came for recee and how he planned the visit. He was looking for the right time to attack since the time he visited temple. After continuous monitoring he finally attacked on 4 December,” a source said.
Chaura was overpowered by Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Jasbir Singh, who was standing close to Badal in plainclothes. Videos showed the police officer pouncing on the shooter, grabbing his hands and pushing them upwards after which the attacker was overpowered with the help of other security personnel and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) task force members.
In the melee, the gun fired and the bullet hit the entrance wall of the shrine behind Sukhbir Badal, who escaped unhurt.
Chaura has more than 20 cases including under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act registered against him.
He was involved in the 2004 Burail jailbreak case where he allegedly helped terrorists Jagtar Singh Hawara, Paramjit Singh Bheora and two others escape from prison. A native of Chora Bajwa village Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, he has been out on bail.