Politics Aside, Attack On Sukhbir Singh Badal Sparks Many Security Questions – News18

Last Updated:December 05, 2024, 16:05 IST

Sukhbir Badal, who is undergoing “religious punishment” at the Golden Temple, was fired upon from close range by a man identified as Narain Chaura

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal and others after a man allegedly opened fire at the former who was performing the duty of ‘sewadar’ outside the Golden Temple. (PTI)

One would think that an assassination bid on a former deputy chief minister of a state inside the most revered religious destination would lead to a hue and cry over the security arrangements and demands for an overhaul. Instead, what we see after an assassination bid on Sukhbir Badal inside the Golden Temple is a political war of words and attempts to deflect security concerns.

The Incident

Sukhbir Badal, who is undergoing “religious punishment” at the Golden Temple, was fired upon from close range by a man identified as Narain Chaura.

The 63-year-old Chaura, an alleged Babbar Khalsa International member, had carried a 9mm semi-automatic pistol to the temple. Inches away from a wheelchair-bound Sukhbir Badal, he whisked out his pistol but was immediately overpowered by the former deputy CM’s security detail. The bullet hit the wall and no one was injured.

However, the site was swarming with devotees and an incident like this could have led to bloodshed or triggered a stampede-like situation. Amritsar Police, in its defence, said plainclothes policemen were keeping a hawk eye and it was the swift response from three of their men — Rishpal Singh, Parminder Singh, and Jasbir Singh — that saved the day.

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Video footage shows Jasbir Singh, wearing a red turban, grabbing Chaura’s arm and pushing him away from Badal, even as the pistol is fired. Bikram Singh Majithia, Badal’s brother-in-law, claimed Jasbir was a personal security officer who has been with the Badal family for decades.

The Ensuing Politics

Majithia slammed Amritsar Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar for claiming that Punjab Police had saved the day, arguing that Jasbir Singh was now a Badal family confidante and acted in that capacity.

He also slammed the Amritsar CP for telling the media that police will investigate, among other things, the allegation that this assassination bid was orchestrated to gain sympathy for the Badals.

Since Wednesday morning, when the attack occurred, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) circles were agog with murmurs about the conspiracy theory. Their argument — Chips of the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Badals have been down after the punishment from the Akal Takht, and the assassination attempt would generate sympathy and perhaps resurrect them politically.

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Initially, these theories were only treated as political conspiracy theories till Bhullar made it official by saying police will probe this aspect too. Both the BJP and SAD have slammed him for the comments. Security experts also point out that Chaura, part of the Jagtar Singh Hawara group, had in the past made it clear that Badals were on his hit list. In that backdrop, they say, the conspiracy theory doesn’t really fit in.

Chaura’s Facebook post dated July 14 states that “no apology or punishment is enough to condone the sins of the Akalis”. This, too, is being pushed by Akali supporters who have lambasted Amritsar Police for their statement.

Security Concern

Amidst the furore over the police statement, it is the real security concerns that are getting sidelined. To begin with, the assailant entered with a 9mm automatic pistol which can’t be bought off the shelf in India. How did he then procure it?

Drones dropping off small arms and narcotics from Pakistan is the new reality for Punjab. As per BSF data, between December 2023 and November 2024, 37 arms have been smuggled into India from Pakistan along with 400 rounds of ammunitions. While no incident of drone-dropped arms and ammunition was recorded in 2022, in the last two years, a 60 per cent hike has been noted by the Punjab frontier of BSF.

Chaura is a known Babbar Khalsa operative. He has been associated with Pakistan since the 1980s as per police records. He reportedly travelled to Pakistan, first in 1984 for training when militancy was starting to plague Punjab. In 2013, he was arrested under the Explosives Act with a huge cache of arms. Sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) were also invoked later.

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Senior intelligence officials reiterate that Pakistan has always reignited the Punjab theatre if the screws are tightened in Jammu and Kashmir. Together, these facts lead to an ominous question — was what transpired at Golden Temple an ISI-backed plan to cause tension in Punjab?

Safeguarding Golden Temple premises

The attack has also led to questions over the safety of devotees who come to Golden Temple. The Amritsar CP has conceded that no frisking is done at the entry point of Golden Temple because of religious sentiments. But Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh has himself requested the government for “adequate steps to secure the premises” after the attack. Is it then time to strike a balance between religious sentiments and the need for a fool proof security system at the entry point of the site?

Intelligence failure

CCTV footage now made public shows that Chaura was present inside Golden Temple a day before the incident. In fact, Majithia has alleged that police officials met him a day before inside the temple complex. Was Chaura then carrying out a recce before the attack? Was any intelligence available about the assassination attempt?

Chaura’s presence in the temple the same day Badal started his penance leads one to question if he attempted the assassination a day earlier too.

The Amritsar CP said 175 plainclothes policemen and SP, DIG, AIG-level officials were deployed for the security of Badal. Bhullar, however, said the uniformed component was not possible owing to religious sentiments. But could more steps have been taken to secure other devotees, given the fact that a known Khalistani terrorist was spotted at the temple for two days consecutively?

Preliminary investigation suggests Chaura acted alone. But questions that need to be asked are the source of the arms, planning of the conspiracy, logistical support, if any, from other over-ground workers of Babbar Khalsa International, and wider concerns for the security of Golden Temple. If only politicians would ask the right questions.

Location :

Amritsar, India