A shocking assassination attempt unfolded on Wednesday morning in Amritsar as former Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal was attacked. Fortuitously, Badal survived the attack unscathed. The dramatic scene took place at the iconic Golden Temple's entry gate, where Sukhbir Singh Badal, acting as a ceremonial sentry due to a religious penalty, was seated in a wheelchair, spear in hand due to a fractured leg.
The attacker boldly brandished a pistol and aimed it at Sukhbir. However, those present quickly sprang into action, confronting the attacker directly. During the struggle, the gun discharged harmlessly into the air.
The swift actions of the crowd led to the capture of the assailant, who was then handed over to the police for interrogation. The attacker identified himself as Narayan Singh Choura, with known affiliations to Babbar Khalsa, having also ventured to Pakistan.
Who is Narayan Singh?
According to sources, Narayan Singh Choura has a history as a terrorist with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). In 1984, he traveled to Pakistan and was instrumental in smuggling large quantities of arms and explosives into Punjab during the early days of militancy. While in Pakistan, he supposedly authored a book on guerrilla warfare and subversive literature. He's also been implicated in the Burail Jailbreak case and has previously served time in a Punjab prison.
Sukhbir Badal visited the Golden Temple for service duty from 9 to 10 AM today and emerged from the attack without injury. The Shiromani Akali Dal has demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.
In a related note, the Shiromani Akali Dal mentioned that Narayan Singh Choura's brother, Narendra Singh, chairs the Choura Bazaar Committee in Dera Baba Nanak and is known to have close ties with Congress MP Sukhjinder Randhawa.
Read Related: Near Escape for Sukhbir Singh Badal in Amritsar's Golden Temple Shooting
Police State: We Foiled the Conspiracy
Police have confirmed they thwarted the conspiracy and have detained Narayan Singh Choura. Initial reports inform that the security perimeter was already established. The police constable acted swiftly on spotting Narayan Singh, preventing any significant incident before it could unfold.
