Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader, escaped an assassination attempt near the Golden Temple entrance in Amritsar on Wednesday. When one sided on fulfilling a religious punishment, serving as a guard at the temple entrance, an individual fired at Badal. Badal ducked for cover and the bullet that had been aimed at him hit the wall as he quickly avoided it.
The assulted, Narain Singh Chaura is also affiliated with the banned organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). At the scene bystanders managed to overpower Chaura and then turn him over to the police. At the time of incident, Badal was in a sewadar uniform and was in possession of a spear, and escaped unscathed.
Advait India – Narain Singh Chaura has a very controversial past related to terrorism. It is reported that Chaura crossed into Punjab in 1984 and he played an important part in smuggling weapons and explosives in the state. He is also presumed to have written a book on guerrilla warfare when he was in Pakistan and published seditious literature.
It raises serious questions about security at the most revered site in ever so proud Punjab. Chaura is linked to extremist networks, the police said, and they are investigating the motive of the attack.
This has given Punjab’s political and social circles a scare since the pronounced escape of a top political figure like Badal. Authorities feel the pressure of investigations to make such incidents stop and to protect public figures and religious sites from any dangers.
But this attempted attack shows how extensive are the challenges of tackling extremism in the region without eroding Punjab’s historical and spiritual landmarks’ sanctity and security.
