Nanded: Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was injured in a knife attack inside a gurdwara in Maharashtra’s Nanded Thursday, police said.
A Nihang (member of a martial order of Sikhs) attacked Badal with a kirpan (curved dagger) inside the gurdwara, Nanded SP Neelabh Rohan told PTI.
The assailant has been taken into custody, the IPS officer said.
Badal was rushed to a hospital where he received two to three stitches on his right hand and is out of danger, an official said.
Police officer Santosh Kendre, who was part of the special protection unit, was injured in the gurdwara incident while trying to protect Badal, he said.
Badal was attacked inside the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat at 1.45 pm while he was climbing down the steps.
Earlier in the day, Badal had visited the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded along with wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who is an Akali Dal MP.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a probe into the attack on Badal, an official said. Fadnavis called up Badal and enquired about his health, he added.
Fadnavis sought information about the incident from the Nanded Superintendent of Police and directed the police to investigate the motive behind the attack, sources said.
Senior BJP leader R P Singh strongly condemned the attack on Badal and said such an act of violence is completely unacceptable.
He appealed to Fadnavis to ensure that this incident is thoroughly and impartially investigated.
“I strongly condemn the attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal Ji in Nanded. Such an act of violence is completely unacceptable and has no place whatsoever in a democratic society. Political differences and disagreements are a natural part of democracy, but resorting to violence can never be justified,” Singh said in a post on X.
This is not the first time that Badal has escaped unhurt in an attack.
In December 2024, a former Babbar Khalsa International terrorist opened fire on him at the entrance of the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
The man, identified as Narain Singh Chaura, was overpowered by people present on the spot and handed over to the police.
Badal was then performing ‘sewadar’ duty as a guard at the temple entrance after the Akal Takht pronounced the ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) for “mistakes” committed during his party’s rule in Punjab.
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