Sukhbir Singh Badal, leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to two Punjab Police officers who saved his life during an attempted assassination on Wednesday. After meeting and hugging Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) Jasbir Singh and Hira Singh, who were part of his security team, Badal praised their bravery in overpowering the attacker. He shared pictures of the two officers on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote: “Risking your life to save someone else’s is not easy. ASI Jasbir Singh and ASI Hira Singh have been a part of our family since the days of Sabah. My family and I can never repay the courage and loyalty they showed yesterday. May God bless them with a long life, good health, and happiness.”
The former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Wednesday when former Khalistani terrorist Narain Singh Chaura fired at him at close range near the Golden Temple’s entrance. The shot missed its target, thanks to the quick actions of plainclothes police officers, who managed to overpower the assailant.
Amritsar Police Commissioner Bhullar confirmed that the authorities are investigating all angles of the case, including the possibility of organizational involvement or whether the attack was an attempt to “gain sympathy.” ASI Jasbir Singh, recognizing the threat, acted quickly by tackling the shooter, grabbing his hands, and pushing him, which allowed security personnel to subdue the attacker.
The attack was captured on camera by media personnel present at the Golden Temple, where Badal was performing sewa (religious penance) as part of his tankhah (penance) for mistakes made during the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government’s tenure in Punjab from 2007 to 2017. Narain Singh Chaura, the assailant, was remanded to three-day police custody on Thursday.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Chaura acted alone and was “self-motivated,” though authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a larger conspiracy. Chaura, an ex-militant with a history of involvement in over 30 terror-related cases, reportedly planned the attack in response to the Akal Takht’s verdict on Badal in the Bargari sacrilege case. The 9mm pistol used in the attack had no identifying marks, and investigators are working to determine whether Chaura brought the weapon into the shrine or obtained it shortly before the attack. CCTV footage released by SAD leaders on Thursday raised new concerns, showing Chaura interacting with Superintendent of Police Harpal Singh, who was overseeing security outside the shrine, a day before the incident.
The attack sparked widespread condemnation. The Congress party criticized the Punjab government for security lapses, while the BJP called the incident a “complete breakdown of law and order.”
