Akali Dal chief Badal injured in Maharashtra attack
Mumbai: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked by a person during a visit to a gurdwara in Nanded district in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Maharashtra state.
According to Kashmir Media Service, former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal suffered a hand injury in the attack by the person wearing the attire of a Nihang Sikh.
The SAD chief, Sukhbir Singh Badal, was in Nanded and after paying obeisance at Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Gurdwara , he had gone to another gurdwara nearby, his party leader said.
The police said preliminary information suggests that the suspect used a kirpan (traditional dagger) to carry out the attack. Mr Badal, who is on a two-day visit to Nanded district, had been visiting various gurdwaras when he was attacked at the Mata Sahib Gurudwara.
Media reports suggested that two people were involved in the attack but Nanded Superintendent of Police Abinash Kumar dismissed these claims. “Only one accused (is involved), a Nihang sevadar (volunteer), who worked at the gurdwara,” he said.
Separately, Nanded Collector Rahul Kardile said, “He (Mr Badal) suffered a minor injury and is out of danger.” He added that the police Inspector, who saved the SAD chief, also sustained injuries. Mr Badal’s wife, Lok Sabha MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, was also present at the time of the incident.
According to sources, the accused, identified as Jaspal Singh, worked as a court clerk. He has been a sevadar at Mata Sahib for the past two years.
