Shiromani Akali Dal president and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked in Maharashtra’s Nanded district on Tuesday afternoon, triggering shock among party supporters.
According to reports, Badal had arrived at a gurdwara in Nanded with his family when an assailant attacked him with a sharp weapon around 1.45 pm. Badal sustained an injury to his hand and was rushed to hospital.
Doctors said he has crossed the critical stage. An inspector who tried to stop the attack also suffered a minor hand injury.
Police arrested the accused, identified as Nihang Sikh Jaspal Singh Tejpal (62), and have begun questioning him. The report also recalled that Badal had escaped an earlier attempt on his life on December 4, 2024.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to Badal over the phone from the hospital and directed a detailed inquiry into the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called Badal’s wife Harsimrat Kaur to enquire about his health and the attack.
