Attack on Sukhbir: ‘Inaction’ in sacrilege cases angered Chaura, say police

Narain Singh Chaura, Khalistani activist and prime suspect in the assassination bid on senior Akali leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, was “angered” over inaction in sacrilege incidents by the then SAD-BJP government.

That’s why he attempted to kill Badal while he was serving “tankhah” (religious punishment) as a sewadar at the entrance of the Golden Temple on December 4 last year. Timely action by a policeman, however, foiled the assassination bid. Chaura was arrested on the spot and he is in judicial custody right now. These facts came to light during the police investigation into the case. The local police presented the challan in the court on January 31. As per the challan, Chaura used 9mm China-made pistol in the crime. The police seized six live cartridges and an empty shell from the spot.

Dharam Singh, an alleged co-conspirator in the case, was yet to be arrested. In the CCTV footage of the incident, he was spotted with the prime accused a day before the incident. Chaura, along with Dharam Singh, had also met an SGPC official on December 3. Dharam Singh’s name cropped up when senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia released the CCTV footage of the two walking together in the “parikarma” of the Golden Temple.

Narian Singh’s son Jagjit Singh Chaura said the court has fixed February 19 as the next date of hearing.