A dramatic incident unfolded this morning at the Golden Temple when a man attempted to shoot Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal as he was offering seva.
The former Punjab deputy chief minister narrowly escaped unharmed thanks to the quick reflexes of alert security personnel, who managed to spot the shooter and prevent a tragedy.
As captured in multiple videos shared by news agencies, the attacker, identified as Narain Singh Chaura, approached Mr. Badal while he was performing his duties at the temple. The assailant pulled out a firearm from his pocket, but before he could take aim, a sewadar (volunteer) quickly intervened, grabbing the attacker's arm and deflecting the shot. The bullet missed everyone and struck a wall instead.
Within seconds, the shooter was subdued by devotees and law enforcement officers and was arrested on the spot.
In a subsequent interview, Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar praised the swift action of officers Rishpal Singh, Jasbir, and Parminder Singh, who prevented a potentially deadly attack. Narain Singh, who has a criminal record, is said to have connections with the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa. He is also believed to be involved in the 2004 Burail jailbreak case.
Following the incident, Mr. Badal's wife, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, arrived at the Golden Temple. Authorities have vowed to investigate the incident from all angles and ensure peace in the region. The attack occurred in a sensitive religious space, where police face significant challenges in balancing security measures with the need to respect religious sentiments.
