Who Attacked SAD Chief Sukhbir Badal & How Did He Do It?

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was injured after a Nihang Sikh allegedly attacked him with a kirpan inside a gurdwara in Maharashtra’s Nanded on Thursday, police said. Badal suffered a minor injury to his right hand and was taken to a hospital, where he received two to three stitches.

Badal Attacked Inside Gurdwara

The incident took place at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat at around 1.45 pm, according to Nanded Superintendent of Police Neelabh Rohan.

Badal was reportedly climbing down the steps inside the gurdwara when the accused allegedly attacked him with the traditional Sikh blade. Police immediately detained the attacker and launched an investigation.

Badal is out of danger, an official said.

A police officer, Santosh Kendre, who was part of Badal’s security detail, was also injured while attempting to protect the SAD chief.

Who Is The Accused?

Police identified the accused as 62-year-old Jaspal Singh, originally from Pune. He had reportedly worked as a lawyer in a Pune court and had been serving at the Mata Sahib Gurdwara in Mugat, near Nanded, for the past two years.

During questioning, Singh reportedly told police, “Just felt like doing this.”

Police are questioning him to establish the motive behind the attack and are investigating the circumstances leading up to the incident.

Badal Had Visited Hazur Sahib Earlier

Badal had arrived in Nanded from Punjab earlier in the day on a personal visit. He had visited Takht Sri Hazur Sahib along with his wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, an Akali Dal MP.

He was provided security as per the scheduled arrangements during his visit.

Badal Was Targeted In 2024 Too

The Nanded attack is not the first time Badal has been targeted.

In December 2024, former Babbar Khalsa International militant Narain Singh Chaura allegedly opened fire at Badal near the entrance of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The attacker was overpowered by people present at the spot and handed over to police.

At the time, Badal was performing sewadar duty at the temple entrance after the Akal Takht pronounced a tankhah, or religious punishment, against him over alleged mistakes during the SAD government’s tenure in Punjab.