Sukhbir Badal escapes assassination bid

Former Deputy CM and senior Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday escaped an assassination bid when a pro-Khalistan activist opened fire on him from close range at the Golden Temple.

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An alert Punjab Police ASI deployed in civilian clothes pounced on the assailant, identified as Narain Singh Chaura, and grabbed his hands just as he pulled a revolver out of his pocket. Chaura managed to open fire, but missed the target. He was overpowered and arrested from the spot.

Editorial: Cowardly attack

The audacious attack was captured on cameras of mediapersons who had gathered to cover the second day of Sukhbir performing the guard duty at the entrance of the shrine as part of “tankhah” given to him by the Akal Takht for “mistakes” committed by the SAD government during 2007-17.

Amid the usual hustle and bustle of devotees, Chaura appeared at the entrance of the Golden Temple from the Ghanta Ghar side around 9.30 am. He washed his feet in the “charan ganga” (a small pool where devotees wash their feet before entering the shrine) and started walking slowly towards Sukhbir, who was sitting on a wheelchair due to a fractured leg.

Assailant Chaura facing multiple cases

• Attacker Narain Singh Chaura (68) is a former terrorist and a pro-Khalistan activist
• A native of Chaura village near Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur, Chaura is facing over 20 cases
• He had gone to Pakistan and allegedly smuggled weapons during initial militancy days
• Had a role in the 2004 Burail jailbreak case; also helped BKI terrorists Hawara and Bheora

Chaura was just a few metres away from Sukhbir when he took out a pistol, but before he could point it at the SAD leader, ASI Jasbir Singh caught hold of him and the bullet missed the target. Two other ASIs — Rashpal Singh and Parminder Singh — joined Jasbir Singh in overpowering Chaura.

After the incident, Sukhbir, a Z+ protectee, completed the remaining half an hour of his guard duty.

As per the police, Chaura, a resident of Dera Baba Nanak and a former terrorist, is facing various cases under the arms and explosives Acts. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the attack was foiled because of the alertness of the police.

“It was the promptness of our personnel, particularly ASI Jasbir Singh, who gauged the situation and caught hold of Chaura,” he said, adding that the former terrorist was being interrogated. “We have seized a

9 mm pistol used in the attack. We are probing the incident from all angles. A CCTV footage of the spot has been procured to see if Chaura was alone or had accomplices,” he said.

Responding to a question, Bhullar said the security deployment at the shrine was sufficient. The police could not carry out frisking because religious sentiments were involved, he said, adding, “Around 175 police personnel led by an assistant inspector general have been deployed at the complex.”

Sukhbir’s wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who was in Amritsar on Wednesday, visited the Golden Temple after the incident.

Meanwhile, opposition parties slammed the ruling AAP over alleged deteriorating law and order in the state. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said, “Gangsters, mafia and terror elements have raised their head in Punjab during the past two and a half years, which should be a matter of concern for all.”

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said the law and order had broken down in the state. “I hold the Punjab Government responsible for the incident,” he said. BJP leader Amarinder Singh said Punjab had already suffered enough and it could not afford another dark era.

Oppn guns for mann

Opposition parties in Punjab condemned the AAP government over the alleged poor law and order situation in the state, with the SAD demanding the resignation of CM Mann. “Where are we pushing the state? It is total failure of law and order. The CM should resign,” SAD’s Daljit Singh Cheema said.