Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Wednesday morning outside the Golden Temple. The suspect, Narain Singh, drew a gun and was about to shoot when quick-thinking bystanders intervene and subdued him. During the struggle, a bullet was discharged, but it missed Badal and struck a nearby wall.
Badal, who was seated in a wheelchair performing ‘sewa’ (service) as part of a religious penance prescribed by the Akal Takht Sahib, remained unharmed. The bullet missed its intended target and struck a nearby wall, causing panic among the devotees present.
The quick action of those present outside the holy shrine prevented the attacker from executing his plan. Security personnel and local devotees managed to apprehend Narain Singh, a former militant associated with Dal Khalsa, before handing him over to the police.
ADCP Harpal Singh said, “There were proper security arrangements here…Sukhbir ji was properly covered (given cover)…Narayan Singh Chaura (assailant) was here yesterday as well…Today too, he first paid obeisance to the Guru…” “No,” he says when asked if anyone was hurt by the bullet.
Eyewitnesses described panic among devotees as the sound of gunfire shattered the peaceful atmosphere of the Golden Temple. Security personnel swiftly intervened, ensuring the safety of Badal and others present.
Sukhbir Singh Badal, accompanied by other senior SAD leaders, was at the Golden Temple to perform ‘seva’ as part of the religious penance mandated by the Akal Takht Sahib. This practice is a symbolic act of humility and atonement within the Sikh faith.
Badal was performing the duties of a ‘sewadar’ outside the Golden Temple when the attack took place. The religious service was part of the penance prescribed by the Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal authority in the Sikh faith.
