Former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Badal, was attacked in Nanded while by a man who pretended to be a devotee.
An attack on Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday was an “attempt to kill” him, the First Information Report (FIR) registered in the case states.
Badal was leaving the Gurudwara and was near the foot-washing area when a man, pretending to be a devotee, raised religious slogans and launched an attack on Badal. As Badal was walking through the foot-washing area, the man, pretending to be a devotee, launched an attack on him, aiming for his chest. The man had a kirpan (a small knife) with which he aimed at Badal’s chest . Acting swiftly, the police inspector intervened and foiled the attempted attack. His wife works as a teacher at an English-medium school in Camp, while their daughter lives with her family in Pune’s Lullanagar. Former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Badal, took the blow on his forearm and suffered injuries to his hand. He, the attacker, is Jaspal Singh Teja Singh Aidal, a lawyer from Pune.
Part of the Maharashtra Police security team assigned to protect the VIP — the attack took place at around 1:50 pm within the Gurudwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat complex, according to the complainant — Police Inspector Santosh Vaijnath Kendre . Badal arrived in Nanded at around 4:45 pm on August 12, according to security sources. On August 13, his programme included visits to Maltekdi, Heera Ghat and Mata Sahib Gurudwara. His security was led by an Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP)-rank officer, with Punjab Police personnel accompanying him, while Maharashtra Police deployed a team including PSI/PI-level officers and 11 other personnel.
Singh lived alone in Nanded while his family remained in Pune, according to the police sources. Earlier reporting noted: According to the police sources, Singh lived alone in Nanded while his family remained in Pune. Earlier reporting noted: Singh had very limited contact with his family after moving to Nanded, sources said.
Earlier reporting noted: He concealed a kirpan, a small knife, in a large handkerchief and approached Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was exiting Gurudwara Mata Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra.
