Amritsar, Dec 4 pti
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal escaped a bid on his life on Wednesday when a former Khalistani terrorist fired from a close range at Punjab’s ex deputy chief minister at the Golden Temple’s entrance here but missed as plainclothes policemen overpowered him.The audacious attack, which occurred at around 9:30 am, was captured on cameras by mediapersons who had gathered to cover the second day of Badal performing the duty of ‘sewadar’ at the main gate of the Sikh shrine as religious penance for “mistakes” committed by the SAD government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.As other devotees were entering, the shooter, identified as former terrorist Narain Singh Chaura, slowly walked towards Badal (62), a Z+ protectee who was sitting in a wheelchair due to a fractured leg, and pulled out a gun from his pocket. Chaura, 68, was seen at the shrine on Tuesday as well. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Jasbir Singh, who was standing close to Badal in plainclothes, sensed the threat to the senior Akali leader and pounced on the shooter, grabbed his hands and pushed them upwards after which the attacker was overpowered with the help of other security personnel and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) task force members.In the melee, the gun fired and the bullet hit the entrance wall of the shrine behind Sukhbir Badal, who escaped unhurt.Additional Deputy Commissioner Harpal Singh said the police had been keeping an eye on Chaura, who was at the Golden Temple on Tuesday as well.Special Director General of Police Arpit Shukla told PTI that more than 20 cases including under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act are registered against Chaura.He was involved in the 2004 Burail jailbreak case where he allegedly helped terrorists Jagtar Singh Hawara, Paramjit Singh Bheora and two others escape from prison. A native of Chora Bajwa village Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, he has been out on bail.
