Sukhbir Singh Badal Injured in Kirpan Attack at Maharashtra Gurdwara
Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of Shiromani Akali Dal and former Punjab deputy chief minister, sustained a hand injury during an attack with a kirpan while visiting Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur in Nanded, Maharashtra. The assailant, identified as a Nihang Sikh, was detained by authorities.
Key takeaways
- Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a kirpan at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur in Nanded, Maharashtra.
- He sustained an injury to his right hand and received medical treatment.
- The alleged attacker, a Nihang Sikh, was detained by authorities.
- This is the second major security incident involving Badal in less than two years.
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal was injured on Thursday during an incident at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur in Nanded, Maharashtra. The former Punjab deputy chief minister was attacked with a kirpan, a ceremonial dagger, while en route to the gurdwara’s langar hall.
Badal, accompanied by his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal and associates, had arrived in Nanded on August 12 for a three-day visit. His itinerary included visits to prominent Sikh shrines. He first offered prayers at Takht Nanded Sahib, one of Sikhism's temporal seats, where he was presented with a siropa by head priests. Subsequently, he proceeded to Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur, located approximately 15 kilometers from the main shrine and managed by a Nihang Sikh sect.
The attack occurred after prayers at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur. As Badal walked toward the langar hall, an individual identified as a Nihang Sikh approached and struck him. Badal sustained an injury to his right hand. The attacker, reportedly in his mid-sixties and wearing traditional Nihang attire, was apprehended by authorities.
Following the assault, Badal was transported to Yashosai Hospital in Nanded for medical attention. Police have initiated an investigation into the circumstances and motivations behind the attack.
This incident marks the second significant security breach involving Sukhbir Singh Badal in under two years. On December 4, 2024, an assassination attempt occurred outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where a former militant allegedly fired a weapon at him. A security officer’s intervention prevented injury in that incident.
Sources reviewed
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