Golden Temple Firing: Sukhbir Badal Attacked, Suspect in Custody

Sukhbir Singh Badal, the leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab was practicing penance “seva” at the Golden Temple in Amritsar this morning when a guy opened fire on him. This was a shocking episode. Badal was sitting at the temple entrance when the assailant tried to kill him but he was stopped by bystanders before he could do any damage. The attack’s motivation is currently under investigation.

As part of a tankhah (religious responsibility) issued by the Akal Takht Sahib for “mistakes” made during the Shiromani Akali Dal’s government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017, Sukhbir Singh Badal who is 62 old now has been serving as a sewadar (volunteer) in the Golden Temple. Badal and other SAD officials were doing different chores including cleaning shoes, doing the dishes and helping out at different gurdwaras and such the Golden Temple as part of this penance.

Badal, who has been in a wheelchair for the past two days because of a fractured leg, has been administering his religious service at one of the temple’s main gates named “Guru Ram Das Dwar.” Wearing a blue sewadar uniform and carrying a spear, he has been in charge of temple entry as part of his one hour daily service.

Witnesses claim that the gunman, Narain Singh of the Gurdaspur district approached Badal and suddenly pulled out a gun. Just in time, a man nearby grabbed the assailant’s hand and stopped him from perfectly aiming. Neither Badal nor anyone nearby were hit by the gunfire. Authorities apprehended and detained the attacker and they are currently looking into his motivations.

When the bullet struck a nearby wall, Badal who was sitting in a wheelchair and doing “seva” escaped unharmed.

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