Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a kirpan by a Nihang at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur on the outskirts of Nanded Sahib in Maharashtra on Thursday.
Badal suffered an injury to his right hand and was shifted to a nearby hospital. He is now out of danger, HT has learnt.
READ ALSO | Ex-Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal attacked with 'kirpan' outside gurdwara in Maharashtra's Nanded
Who attacked Sukhbir Singh Badal?
The attacker was a Nihang dressed in blue attire and is reportedly in his mid-sixties. His identity has not yet been revealed. Security personnel accompanying Badal overpowered him and handed him over to the local police for questioning.
According to Jaimal Singh Dhillon, a functionary at Takht Nanded Sahib, the gurdwara is under the control of a Nihang Samparday and the attacker is said to be from Punjab.
The historic Nanded gurdwara is managed by a splinter group of Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal 96 Crori, a major Nihang organisation headed by Baba Maan Singh. The local jathedar is Baba Teja Singh. The accused Nihang was reportedly serving as a sewadar at the gurdwara.
{{/usCountry}}The historic Nanded gurdwara is managed by a splinter group of Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal 96 Crori, a major Nihang organisation headed by Baba Maan Singh. The local jathedar is Baba Teja Singh. The accused Nihang was reportedly serving as a sewadar at the gurdwara.
{{/usCountry}}Where was Sukhbir Singh Badal attacked?
The attack took place at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur on the outskirts of Nanded, around 15 km from Takht Nanded Sahib, one of the five temporal seats of the Sikhs.
Badal was attacked while he was walking towards the langar hall after paying obeisance at the gurdwara. The shrine is controlled by a Nihang sect and is not managed by the board that oversees the main Nanded Sahib Gurdwara.
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Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis sought details of the incident from the Nanded Superintendent of Police and directed authorities to investigate the motive behind the attack.
‘Attack on Punjab’s unity’: SAD leader
SAD national vice-president Sanjeev Talwar called the attack on party chief Badal a serious security lapse.
“Sukhbir Singh Badal is a promoter of Hindu-Sikh unity, he speaks of Punjab and Punabiyat,” Talwar said. “This is not a direct attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal but an attack on the unity and integrity of Punjab,” he added.
“Such attack on someone who has Z+ security and is a former Deputy CM will certainly be considered a security lapse,” he said.
Why was Sukhbir Badal in Nanded?
Badal reached Nanded on Wednesday with his family and a group of close associates for a three-day visit. He organised an Akhand Path at the gurdwara.
Earlier on Thursday, Badal was offered a siropa by the head priests at Sachkhand Nanded Sahib, the main gurdwara in Nanded and one of the five temporal seats of the Sikhs. Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and other family members were also present.
Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur is located around 15 km from the main Nanded Sahib gurdwara and is under the control of a Nihang Samparday.
Badal’s second attack in less than two years
The Nanded incident is the second attack on Sukhbir Badal in less than two years. On December 4, 2024, former militant Narain Singh Chaura allegedly attempted to assassinate Badal at the entrance of the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Chaura fired at the SAD chief from close range, but the bullet narrowly missed after a security officer grabbed his pistol. The bullet struck the shrine wall.
No one was injured in that incident. Chaura was overpowered and arrested.