Pro-Khalistan militant shoots at Badal at the entrance of the Golden Temple

Failed attempt of assassination of former Punjab Dy CM Badal

Amritsar (Punjab) – The attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal, the former deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and the President of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) took place as he was serving penance ordered by the Akal Takht, the Sikh religious body, for “mistakes” by his party when in power from 2007 to 2017. A Khalistani shot at him. A video of the incident has become viral. Badal is seen sitting at the entrance when a person comes there, takes out a gun and tries to fire. The people, who were with Badal, saw that person and stopped him; therefore, the bullet shot at Badal hit a wall. Later, when people tried to nab him, there was another firing in the air. The shooter has been arrested. His name is Narain Singh Chaura and he is reported to be a Khalistani militant having trained in Pakistan in terrorist activities. Many cases have been filed against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) earlier. It has also been brought forth that Chaura was earlier arrested for his involvement in pro-Khalistan terrorist activities.

As per the information given by the Police, Chaura went to Pakistan in 1984. From there, he used to smuggle weapons and explosives to Punjab, on a large scale. He has written books on guerilla tactics and against India while in Pakistan. In mid-1990, he returned to India and continued to take part in terrorist activities.

He was accused of illegally providing cell phones and other material to the killers of Beant Singh, the former Chief Minister of Punjab while they were detained in the Burail jail, Chandigarh in 2003-04. He was later released on bail in 2022. There are cases registered against him in various districts in Punjab, including Amritsar, Ropar, Tarn Taran, etc. (Why hasn’t he been sentenced to death so far, despite such serious crimes registered against him ? It is extremely disgraceful that such incidents create a picture before the world that in India, a person can get away with crimes against the country and he can commit more and more such crimes. – Editor)    

Editorial Perspectives

• Activities of Khalistan supporters and terrorists have increased since AAP took the reins of Punjab. An attempt to kill a former deputy Chief Minister during broad daylight at the sacred place of Sikhs i.e. the Golden Temple, indicates the condition of law and order in Punjab.

• Do the Sikhs, who still oppose action taken by the armed forces against Khalistani terrorists in 1984 in the Golden Temple, approve of the attempt to kill Badal in the same Golden Temple ? Or do they believe whatever Khalistani militants do is right and any action, if taken against the militants by the Police and army, would be wrong ?