Wed Dec 04 06:48:21 UTC 2024: ## Gunfire at Golden Temple: Attack on Akali Dal Leader Foiled
**Amritsar, Punjab –** A shooting incident at the Golden Temple in Amritsar this morning targeted Sukhbir Singh Badal, the chief of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) party. Badal, a former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, was unharmed when a gunman opened fire near the temple entrance where he was performing “sewadar” duties – a form of religious penance – following a religious punishment imposed on him and other Akali leaders.
The shooter, identified as Narain Singh from Gurdaspur district, was apprehended immediately by bystanders and police. While the motive remains under investigation, sources suggest Singh has links to the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa and a history of criminal activity, including involvement in the 2004 Burail jailbreak. A weapon was discharged, but no one was injured. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar praised the swift action of officers who prevented further casualties, highlighting the challenges of security in a sensitive religious location.
The incident occurred around 9 am, shortly after Badal began his duties. He is currently serving a penance imposed by the Akal Takht for actions committed during the SAD’s governance (2007-2017), including pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a blasphemy case.
The attack has drawn strong reactions from political figures. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condemned the incident, praising the police response and ordering a thorough investigation. Opposition figures, however, criticized the state’s law and order situation, while the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) refuted these claims. Regardless of political affiliation, there was widespread relief that Badal was unharmed. The investigation into the attack and the shooter’s motives is ongoing.
First Piper 