A dramatic scene unfolded this morning at the Golden Temple in Amritsar when an assailant attempted to shoot Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal during his seva (volunteer service). The former Punjab deputy chief minister narrowly escaped harm, thanks to the quick response of alert security personnel.
The attacker, identified as Narain Singh Chaura, approached Mr. Badal while he was performing seva at the temple. As seen in videos shared by news outlets, Chaura pulled out a firearm from his pocket and attempted to target Sukhbir Singh Badal.
However, a sewadar (volunteer) intervened immediately, grabbing the attacker’s arm and deflecting the shot. The bullet struck a nearby wall, missing its intended target and the surrounding devotees.
Within moments, the attacker was overpowered by devotees and law enforcement officers and arrested at the scene.
Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar commended the swift action of officers Rishpal Singh, Jasbir Singh, and Parminder Singh, who played a key role in averting the attack. Narain Singh is reported to have a criminal history and alleged ties to the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa. He is also suspected of involvement in the 2004 Burail jailbreak case.
Following the incident, Bathinda MP and Sukhbir Badal’s wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, arrived at the Golden Temple to assess the situation. Authorities have launched a thorough investigation, vowing to explore all angles and ensure the security of religious spaces.
The attack has heightened concerns, given the sensitive nature of the site, where maintaining security while respecting religious sentiments poses unique challenges.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
