In a daring attack this morning, a man attempted to open fire on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal while he was fulfilling his penance duties at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. as Badal, a former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, was serving as a ‘sewadar’—a voluntary servant tasked with cleaning and maintaining the sacred premises.
Badal, 62, had been stationed at the entrance of the Golden Temple for the past two days, wearing the traditional blue ‘sewadar’ uniform and carrying a spear. Despite his leg being in a cast and using a wheelchair, he diligently performed his duties, which included washing dishes and cleaning shoes at various gurdwaras. His penance follows a declaration by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of Sikhism, which imposed a ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) on him and other SAD leaders for alleged misconduct during the party’s governance in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.
VIDEO | The person who allegedly opened fire at Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal has been taken into custody by the police. Visuals from Golden Temple, #Amritsar.#SukhbirSinghBadal #GoldenTemple
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 4, 2024
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/gbXsfBaCsL
The assailant, identified as Narain Singh from Gurdaspur district, approximately 75 kilometers from Amritsar, was seen slowly approaching the temple gate before drawing a firearm. Witnesses captured footage of Singh brandishing the gun, which discharged but failed to hit Badal or those nearby, striking the temple wall instead. Quick action by bystanders who restrained the shooter prevented any casualties. Singh was promptly arrested, and authorities are delving into his motives behind the attack.
Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar praised the vigilance of the crowd, stating, “Alert police officers managed to foil the attack. Narain Singh has a criminal record. We have registered a case and the incident is being probed from all angles. I appeal to people to maintain peace.” Bhullar also highlighted the challenges of policing the Golden Temple, noting the sensitivity of deploying uniformed officers in the revered religious site and the difficulties in conducting thorough security checks without disrupting the sanctity of the place.
#WATCH | Bullet fired at Golden Temple | Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar says, "…The attacker has been caught. An investigation will reveal everything…Investigation will reveal whether there was a deeper conspiracy…It was an assassination attempt but he… pic.twitter.com/jDdeuNCed6
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2024
Sources within the security establishment have revealed that Narain Singh has affiliations with the Khalistani militant group Babbar Khalsa. He is suspected to have been involved in the notorious 2004 Burail jailbreak, where four inmates escaped by digging a 94-foot tunnel. Among the escapees were high-profile figures such as Babbar Khalsa chief Jagtar Singh Hawara, assassins of former Chief Minister Beant Singh Paramjit Singh Bheora and Jagtar Singh Tara, and murder convict Devi Singh.
Earlier, Badal had publicly acknowledged his mistakes before the Akal Takht, which included the controversial pardon of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2007 blasphemy case during SAD’s tenure. The religious tribunal’s decision to impose ‘tankhah’ came nearly three months after Badal was declared guilty of religious misconduct.
The attack has sparked concerns over the security situation in Punjab, with former SAD MP Naresh Gujral commenting, “This attack shows that criminals are roaming freely in Punjab and that the law and order situation has broken down.”
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to uncover the full extent of the plot and any potential links to broader extremist networks. Meanwhile, the Golden Temple remains a symbol of resilience, with the community rallying to support their leaders and uphold the sanctity of their sacred space.
