Nanded: Shiromani Akali Dal president and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was injured in a knife attack at a gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra, on Thursday. The alleged attacker was overpowered and detained by security personnel soon after the incident.
The attack took place near the Mata Sahib Gurdwara at the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib complex, one of the most important Sikh religious sites. Badal was visiting the shrine along with his wife and SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
According to reports, the attacker approached Badal carrying a kirpan and attempted to strike him. Security personnel reacted immediately and managed to restrain the assailant. A police officer was reportedly injured while intervening.
Badal sustained an injury to his right hand and was subsequently taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment. Initial reports indicate that his condition was not critical.
The incident has raised questions about security arrangements at the religious complex, particularly because a prominent political leader was attacked during a public religious visit.
Maharashtra authorities have ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police are examining the alleged attacker, the sequence of events and the possible motive behind the assault. It will also be important for investigators to establish how the man managed to approach Badal with a sharp-edged weapon.
The incident assumes additional significance because Badal survived another attack at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in December 2024. On that occasion, an armed man attempted to shoot him while he was performing religious duty outside the shrine. The attack was foiled after security personnel intervened.
The latest incident is likely to generate concern across Punjab’s political and Sikh religious circles.
Sukhbir Badal remains a significant figure in Punjab politics and heads the Shiromani Akali Dal, which is seeking to rebuild its organisational and electoral strength ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election. Harsimrat Kaur Badal is also a prominent party leader and Member of Parliament.
For the moment, however, the immediate focus remains on Badal’s health, the investigation and the security implications of the attack.
The authorities will now have to determine the motive behind the assault and whether there were any security lapses. The incident has once again highlighted the challenge of protecting political leaders during visits to crowded religious places, where maintaining security while allowing devotees unrestricted access can be particularly difficult.
