Sukhbir Badal Survives Shooting During Penance at Golden Temple

The Akali Dal leader was performing religious punishment for past political missteps when an assailant linked to Khalistani militancy attempted to shoot him.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, was attacked by a gunman while performing 'sewadar' duties at Golden Temple as part of a religious punishment from the Akal Takht.
The assailant, identified as Narain Singh Chaura, has a criminal history and alleged ties to the Khalistani group Babbar Khalsa and the 2004 Burail jailbreak case.
Quick action by bystanders and police prevented harm, with the bullet missing Badal and hitting a wall; the attacker was apprehended on the spot.
The punishment was issued for political decisions during the Akali Dal's rule, including pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in a 2007 blasphemy case, which angered the Sikh community.
Political leaders across party lines condemned the attack, with calls for a thorough investigation into the security lapse and potential extremist motives.