Punjab: In a shocking incident at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, bullets were fired on Wednesday at the premises where Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders, including party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, were carrying out ‘seva’ as part of a religious punishment issued by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
The suspect, identified as Narain Singh Chaura, was arrested by the police. Chaura, a former militant with a history of criminal cases, was reportedly attempting to shoot Sukhbir Badal. At the time of the incident, Chaura was positioned close to Badal and opened fire. However, a ‘sewadar’ (volunteer) standing nearby intervened and pushed Chaura’s hand upwards, preventing the shot from hitting the SAD leader.
Sukhbir Badal, along with other Akali leaders, has been at the Golden Temple following a directive from the Sikh clergy, serving a ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) for mistakes attributed to the Shiromani Akali Dal government during its tenure from 2007 to 2017.
As part of his punishment, Badal, who has a fractured leg and was seated in a wheelchair, was performing duties as a ‘sewadar’, wearing a blue uniform and holding a spear at the entrance of the temple. He, along with senior leaders like Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and former ministers Bikram Singh Majithia and Daljit Singh Cheema, carried out various tasks, including washing utensils and cleaning shoes, in penance for their past actions.
A small board worn by Badal and Dhindsa bore a message acknowledging their “misdeeds.” Both leaders served for an hour, carrying out the duties assigned to them as part of the punishment.
The police have launched an investigation into the attempted shooting, and Narain Singh Chaura is being questioned regarding his motives.
