Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal sustained injuries in an attack inside a gurudwara near Nanded, Maharashtra, on Thursday afternoon. Police said a member of the Nihang order struck him with a kirpan, leaving a wound of about five centimetres on his right forearm. Badal was rushed to hospital, where he received stitches and was later declared stable.
The incident occurred around 1.45 p.m. at Gurudwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat, located about 15 kilometres from Nanded. Badal, who was in a wheelchair due to a fractured leg, was accompanied by his wife and party MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal after visiting Takht Sri Hazur Sahib earlier in the day.
Initial reports identified the attacker as Narain Singh Chaura, a volunteer at the gurudwara. Witnesses said he approached Badal and attempted to pull out a weapon before being overpowered by those present. Police later clarified that the accused, aged around 60, was based in Pune but had been living alone in Nanded. During preliminary questioning, he referred to Punjab’s drug crisis, though his exact motive remains unclear.
Nanded Superintendent of Police Neelabh Rohan confirmed the arrest and said further investigation was underway. A Punjab Police officer attached to Badal’s security detail was also injured while shielding him. Visuals from the hospital showed Badal with his hand bandaged, walking inside the building.
SAD leaders termed the incident a serious lapse in security. Senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, calling the attack an intelligence failure. The party noted that Badal, who enjoys Z‑plus security, is entitled to CISF protection only in Punjab and Delhi, with about 40 personnel deployed.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj condemned the attack, saying, “Such an act at a sacred place cannot be justified.”
The episode comes less than two years after Badal narrowly escaped an attempt on his life at the Golden Temple entrance in December 2024. Thursday’s assault has reignited debate over the adequacy of security arrangements for political leaders, particularly in religious spaces. 
