Nanded Gurdwara Attacker Jaspal Singh Was Sevadar for Two Years, Police Say
Sukhbir Badal's attacker arrested after reported Maharashtra incident.
A Nihang Sikh was arrested after attacking Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Gurudwara in Maharashtra’s Nanded on Thursday. The accused, identified as Jaspal Singh, was taken into custody shortly after the incident. Police are now questioning him to establish the motive behind the attack.
According to sources, Singh attacked Badal with a kirpan on the steps of the gurudwara as the Akali Dal leader was leaving after offering prayers. The accused was reportedly present at the religious site posing as a devotee, allegedly to avoid attracting suspicion. Security personnel were present when the incident occurred and intervened during the attack.
Singh was apprehended soon after the incident amid the commotion at the gurudwara. During the chaos, his turban came off. People at the spot helped him re-tie the turban before he was taken into custody, reflecting the significance attached to the head covering in Sikh tradition.
Also Read: Liquor Worth Rs 1.2 Crore Seized In Gujarat, 2 Rajasthan Men Arrested
Nanded Superintendent of Police Rohan Neelabh said Singh was being questioned as part of the investigation into the attack. Police are examining the circumstances leading up to the incident and are seeking to determine whether the accused acted alone and what prompted the alleged attack.
Badal suffered an injury to his right hand during the incident and was rushed to a hospital for treatment. The attack occurred while he was visiting the prominent Sikh shrine, where he had gone to offer prayers. Security arrangements and the sequence of events at the gurudwara are also being examined by investigators.
The incident has prompted a police investigation into the security arrangements at the religious site and the circumstances that allowed the accused to approach Badal. Authorities are continuing to question the arrested man as they work to establish the full sequence of events and the motive behind the attack.
Also Read: Banned Imported Cigarettes Worth Rs 1 Crore Seized In Delhi, Four Arrested
