Wed Dec 04 15:09:03 UTC 2024: ## Former Khalistani Terrorist Attacks Akali Dal Leader at Golden Temple

**Amritsar, Punjab –** A former Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist, Narain Singh Chaura, attempted to assassinate Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday. Badal, serving a mandated period of community service at the temple entrance, was unharmed thanks to the quick actions of bystanders who overpowered Chaura.

Videos of the incident show Badal, dressed in a sewadar uniform, ducking as Chaura, armed with a 9mm pistol, opened fire. Temple officials swiftly apprehended the shooter before he could inflict further harm.

Chaura, a known Khalistani activist with a history of violence, escaped to Pakistan in 1984, where he allegedly authored a book on guerrilla warfare and was involved in smuggling weapons into Punjab. He is a convicted participant in the notorious 2004 Burail jailbreak, involving the escape of assassins of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. He has been implicated in numerous other cases throughout Punjab.

While authorities initially described the attack as a “lone wolf” action, the sophisticated weapon and Chaura’s Pakistani links raise concerns about possible external involvement. The use of a 9mm pistol, often smuggled via drone from across the border, further fuels these suspicions.

The attack followed an order by the Akal Takht, Sikhism’s highest religious authority, for Badal and other Akali Dal leaders to perform community service as penance for past government actions. This includes guard duty at the Golden Temple, stemming from incidents of sacrilege and police firing during the previous SAD government’s tenure.

The incident sparked immediate political fallout. The Congress and Akali Dal both criticized the ruling AAP government’s handling of law and order, demanding investigations and accountability. The Akali Dal called for a judicial inquiry, alleging a conspiracy. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring demanded the suspension of the Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, while condemning the attack, praised the police’s swift response and claimed a conspiracy to tarnish Punjab’s image had been thwarted. The investigation into the attempted assassination and any potential wider conspiracy is ongoing.

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