Sukhbir Singh Badal, the former deputy chief minister of Punjab, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Wednesday at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where he was performing sewa (service) as a form of penance for past mistakes during his party’s rule (2007-17).
The assailant, Narain Singh Chaura, a 68-year-old fugitive associated with various terror-related cases, was quickly subdued and arrested. Video footage captured the moment Chaura approached Badal and brandished a firearm. However, just as he fired, a nearby volunteer pushed him, causing the bullet to miss Badal and hit a wall instead. Fortunately, Badal emerged unharmed from the incident, which occurred during the second day of his penance. Chaura had previously been implicated in a high-profile escape plan involving inmates responsible for the assassination of former chief minister Beant Singh.
After being released on bail, he became a proclaimed offender in 2011 and was eventually apprehended in 2013 for violations of the Explosives Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He has a history as a former militant and was a founding member of the Khalistan Liberation Army, remaining elusive for many years. Upon his arrest in 2004, police confiscated a pistol and five cartridges from him. Although acquitted in 2018, he has been linked to various extremist organizations and had a bounty of ₹10 lakh placed on him at one point.
Involvement with weapon smuggling into Punjab during the early terrorism phase marked his activities since crossing into Pakistan in 1984, where he also allegedly wrote a book on guerrilla warfare. Witnesses indicated that Chaura was seen in the vicinity of the attempted assassination just a day after a public denunciation of Badal’s political mistakes, which included acknowledging failures related to the 2015 sacrilege incidents and pardoning a controversial figure in a separate blasphemy case.
During their penance, Badal and former Union minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa were seen in wheelchairs with signs around their necks admitting their faults. Following a ruling from five senior Sikh priests that declared Badal guilty of religious misconduct, they called for his resignation as party chief and rescinded honors given to his father, Parkash Singh Badal. Dressed in a volunteer’s blue robe and seated in a wheelchair due to an injury, Badal held a spear at the Golden Temple’s entrance.
Supporters and plainclothes security personnel surrounded him and Dhindsa. Opposition Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa condemned the attack, describing it as deeply regrettable and highlighting the need for responsible dialogue and vigilance within society. He stressed the importance of unity and dialogue among all stakeholders in Punjab to maintain peace and respect amid the region’s challenges. Bajwa called for a thorough investigation while urging calm and collaboration during this sensitive period.
