Sukhbir Singh Badal Injured in Gurudwara Attack in Nanded
Incident Overview
File image of Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal
(Photo: @SouleFacts/X)
Nanded (Maharashtra), Aug 13: Sukhbir Singh Badal, the leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal and former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, was injured during an attack at a gurudwara in Nanded, Maharashtra, on Thursday.
The incident reportedly occurred around 11 a.m. when Badal was visiting the Mata Sahib Gurdwara located in the Hazur Sahib area on the city's outskirts.
Sources indicate that a Nihang armed with a kirpan attacked Badal, and the assailant has since been apprehended by law enforcement.
It is alleged that the attacker attempted to stab Badal in the abdomen, but security personnel intervened promptly, preventing more severe injuries.
A video captured shortly after the incident shows Badal with a saffron cloth wrapped around his right hand.
Following the attack, he was taken to a private hospital in Nanded for medical attention. A security officer assigned to protect him also sustained injuries while trying to thwart the attack.
Earlier that day, Badal had visited Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded with his family, including his wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who is also an Akali Dal MP, at the time of the incident.
The attack occurred within the gurdwara premises, and a senior police official reported that Badal suffered an injury to his hand, with preliminary assessments suggesting additional injuries.
Authorities have stated that Badal's injuries are not life-threatening. He has received stitches on his hand and is currently being treated at a private facility in Nanded.
Inspector Santosh Kendre, who was on special security duty, also sustained injuries during the incident.
Police have confirmed the detention of one attacker, and an investigation is ongoing.
Badal had traveled to Nanded from Punjab for this visit.
This incident marks another attack on the Akali Dal leader; he previously survived an assassination attempt on December 4, 2024, outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where he was unharmed, and the assailant was quickly subdued and arrested.
At that time, Badal was performing 'sewadar' duties at the Golden Temple following a 'tankhah' (religious punishment) pronounced by the Akal Takht against him and other Akali Dal leaders for alleged missteps during their governance in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.