Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal escaped a bid on his life on Wednesday when a former Khalistani terrorist fired from a close range at Punjab's ex deputy chief minister at the Golden Temple's entrance here but missed as plainclothes policemen overpowered him.
The audacious attack, which occurred at around 9:30 am, was captured on cameras by mediapersons who had gathered to cover the second day of Badal performing the duty of 'sewadar' at the main gate of the Sikh shrine as religious penance for "mistakes" committed by the SAD government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.
As other devotees were entering, the shooter, identified as former terrorist Narain Singh Chaura, slowly walked towards Badal (62), a Z+ protectee who was sitting in a wheelchair due to a fractured leg, and pulled out a gun from his pocket.
Chaura, 68, was seen at the shrine on Tuesday as well.
Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Jasbir Singh, who was standing close to Badal in plainclothes, sensed the threat to the senior Akali leader and pounced on the shooter, grabbed his hands and pushed them upwards after which the attacker was overpowered with the help of other security personnel and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) task force members.
In the melee, the gun fired and the bullet hit the entrance wall of the shrine behind Sukhbir Badal, who escaped unhurt.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Harpal Singh said the police had been keeping an eye on Chaura, who was at the Golden Temple on Tuesday as well.
Special Director General of Police Arpit Shukla told reporters that more than 20 cases including under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act are registered against Chaura.
He was involved in the 2004 Burail jailbreak case where he allegedly helped terrorists Jagtar Singh Hawara, Paramjit Singh Bheora and two others escape from prison. A native of Chora Bajwa village Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, he has been out on bail.
Chaura had remained in jail in Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Chandigarh, his wife Jasmeet Kaur told reporters at his native place. To a question, she said he had told her that he was going to Golden Temple. She said whatever he did was wrong.
Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the attack on Badal was foiled because of the alertness of police and the motive behind it will be ascertained after Chaura's questioning.
The shooter came alone to the Golden Temple, he said, adding that the case will be investigated from all angles.
Sukhbir Singh Badal is the son of five-time former chief minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal and had recently announced his decision to step down as SAD president. He was the deputy chief minister of Punjab from August 2009 to March 2017.
Responding to a question, Bhullar said the security deployment at the shrine was sufficient. Police cannot carry out frisking because religious sentiments are involved, he said.
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