Wed Dec 04 05:29:09 UTC 2024: ## Former Militant Arrested After Firing Shots Near Akali Dal Leader at Golden Temple
**Amritsar, Punjab:** A former militant, identified as Narain Singh Chaura, was arrested on Wednesday after firing shots near Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Badal, along with other SAD leaders, was performing “seva” (community service) as part of a religious punishment imposed by the Akal Takht Sahib.
Chaura, who reportedly has a history of involvement in militancy and was allegedly involved in the 2004 Burail jailbreak, was apprehended at the scene. A “sewadar” (volunteer) is credited with preventing serious injury to Badal by deflecting Chaura’s shot.
The incident occurred as Badal, serving his punishment in a wheelchair due to a leg fracture, was performing duties at the Guru Ram Das Dwar. Fellow SAD leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, also in a wheelchair, and other party members were undertaking similar tasks as part of the religious penance.
SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema strongly condemned the attack, calling it a grave incident and demanding a high-level judicial inquiry. He also criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Punjab government for its perceived failure to maintain law and order. Despite the incident, the SAD leaders vowed to continue their “seva.”
The religious punishment, announced Monday, stemmed from alleged misdeeds committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal government between 2007 and 2017. The punishment involved serving as sewadars at the Golden Temple. The timely intervention of security personnel and a swift arrest prevented what could have been a far more serious incident.
First Piper 