Thu Dec 05 13:38:01 UTC 2024: ## Punjab Sees Resurgence of Close-Range Assassinations, Mirroring Past Khalistani Tactics

**Amritsar, Punjab –** A recent assassination attempt on former Punjab Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has highlighted a disturbing trend in the state: the resurgence of close-range assassinations mirroring tactics used by Khalistani separatists in the past. The attacker, Narayan Singh Chhauda, aimed to kill Badal at point-blank range, a method eerily similar to past killings of prominent figures.

The location of the attack itself holds historical significance. Forty-one years ago, Punjab Police DIG A.S. Atwal was murdered at the same spot outside the Golden Temple, shot at point-blank range by an assailant who emerged from within the temple complex. This method was also employed in the assassinations of other high-profile figures, including Akali Dal leader Harcha Singh Longowal, former Chief Minister Beant Singh, and RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja. Even Shiv Sena leader Sudhir Suri was killed in broad daylight in Amritsar using a similar tactic.

The assassination of DIG Atwal in 1983 is particularly chilling. According to former Punjab DGP KPS Gill, shopkeepers lowered their shutters, fearing retribution, leaving Atwal’s body lying near the Golden Temple’s main entrance for nearly two hours.

Longowal’s assassination in 1985 followed the signing of the Rajiv-Longowal Accord, a peace deal that ended the Akali Dal’s agitation. His killers, reportedly Khalistani extremists, opposed the agreement.

Beant Singh’s death in 1995 involved a human bomb, showcasing a different, but equally deadly, method. The Khalistan Tiger Force was implicated in his assassination.

The recent attempt on Badal’s life, while unsuccessful due to his security detail, has raised serious concerns. Akali leader Bikram Majithia released CCTV footage allegedly showing Amritsar SP Harpal Singh meeting with the attacker a day before the incident. Investigations are underway to determine the extent of any police complicity. Police reports indicate Chhauda had been visiting the Golden Temple for three days prior to the attack, making numerous phone calls.

The series of assassinations, spanning decades, underscores the ongoing threat of extremist violence in Punjab and raises questions about security lapses and the potential resurgence of Khalistani extremism.

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