Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Aug 1: The Shiromani Akali Dal president and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked, reportedly by a Nihang Sikh, causing him injuries on his hand in a gurudwara in Nanded in Maharashtra on Thursday, officials said.
The injury, however, was not very deep or life threatening. The suspect, identified as Jaspal Singh, a Nihang who had been working at the Gurudwara for the past two years, has been taken into custody and investigation is under way, Nanded Collector Rahul Kardile said. Police said preliminary information suggests that the suspect used a kirpan (dagger) to carry out the attack.
SPU Police Inspector Santosh Kendre also sustained an injury to his hand while attempting to protect Sukhbir Singh Badal. Both are undergoing treatment at Yashosai Hospital in Nanded, and their condition is reported to be stable.
The attack took place when Mr Badal, who is on a two-day visit to Nanded district and visiting various gurudwaras, was coming down the stairs after offering prayers at the Mata Sahib Devaji in Mugat (Mudkhed Taluka) Gurudwara around 1.50 PM. “He suffered a minor injury on the hand. He is stable and out of danger,” Mr Kardile said, adding that the police inspector who saved the SAD chief also sustained injuries. Mr Badal’s wife, Lok Sabha MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, was also present at the time of the incident.
While media reports suggested two people were involved in the attack, Nanded Superintendent of Police Abinash Kumar dismissed these claims. “Only one accused [is involved] — a Nihang sevadar, who worked at the gurudwara,” he said.
A statement from the Nanded SP said the attack took place at Gurudwara Mata Sahib at village Muga in Nanded. “Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal was on a tour of Nanded district. Today, August 13, 2026, at around 1:50 PM, after completing his darshan at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Deva Ji, village Muga, Taluka Mudkhed, a Sikh sevadari attacked him with a dagger, injuring him,” the SP office said.
Senior SAD leader Daljit Cheema demanded a high-level independent inquiry into the incident. “Mr Badal was in Nanded and after paying obeisance at Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Gurudwara, he had gone to another Gurdwara nearby, when a person in his mid-sixties attacked him with a ‘kirch’ (dagger).
“The person was wearing traditional attire (bana). What is the actual conspiracy behind the incident, and who is the person? Whether he is actually a Nihang or belongs to some group will only be known after the investigation,” Mr Cheema said. “This is a serious matter. Whenever Akali Dal rises, conspiracies start right then,” he added.
According to sources, the attacker attempted to stab Sukhbir Badal in stomach, but the security personnel intervened and tried to stop him. Shortly after the attack, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to the Nanded Superintendent of Police and sought details. Fadnavis has directed the police to investigate the motive behind the attack.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inquired about Sukhbir Singh Badal’s health in a phone conversation with his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
The Maharashtra Home Minister Yogesh Kadam said he has spoken to the Inspector General (IG), and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an inquiry into the entire incident. Saying that the assailant has been arrested, he said the accused had been working as volunteer at the Gurudwara for the past two years. He added that the accused carried out the attack using a sharp object and a police officer also sustained injuries while trying to prevent the attack.
Mr Kadam said injuries suffered by Mr Badal and the security personnel were not serious. “Both are in stable condition and out of danger. The Maharashtra Police will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, and the Nanded Police are also investigating at their level. Authorities will also probe whether there was a conspiracy behind the attack or if there is any other angle involved. Assistance from other investigative agencies will be sought if necessary,” Yogesh Kadam said.
This is the second attack on Mr Badal, also a former union minister, in around two years. Back in December 2024, Badal was at the entrance of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. He was unharmed, and the gunman was quickly overpowered and arrested on the spot. The attacker was identified as Narayan Singh Chuara, who was a resident of Derababa and a member of Dal Khalsa. He was once arrested under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2013.
The attack at the Golden Temple came while he was performing ‘sewadar’ duties after the Akal Takht pronounced the ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) for him and several other Akali Dal leaders for “mistakes” committed during the party’s rule in Punjab from 2007 to 2017 including finding him culpable of supporting Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in the 2007 sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.
The attack on Badal comes days after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, fuelling speculations that the Akali Dal could re-join hands with the BJP for the Punjab assembly elections next year. The meeting was held at PM Modi’s office in the Parliament House complex last week.
Sukhbir Singh Badal has a top-tier Z-plus security cover due to high threat perceptions.