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NATION DECEMBER 13, 2024 | The Indian Eye 6

PUNJAB CRISIS

Conspiracy against Punjab? Shooter fires at

Sukhbir Badal, stirs a massive row in state

Alleged attacker Narain Singh Chaura is a former head of Akal Federation and had authored

books on guerrilla warfare and other seditious materials

OUR BUREAU

Amritsar/New Delhi
n a shocking incident on Wednesday, an assas-
sination attempt was made on Shiromani Akali
IDal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal at the Gold-
en Temple premises in Amritsar. Badal was doing
‘seva’ at the Golden Temple after being declared a
‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) in Au-
gust by Akal Takht, who announced religious pun-
ishment for him for the “mistakes” and “some de-
cisions” taken by the SAD-led government in the
state from 2007 to 2017.
The SAD leader was sitting at the entrance
of the Golden Temple with a plaque card around
his neck as part of the ‘tankhah’ (religious punish-
ment). According to sources, the attacker Narain
Singh Chaura has been linked with radical orga-
nizations and was also on the radar of intelligence
agencies ever since his return from Pakistan.
“Chaura was on the radar of Central intelli-
gence agencies since he came out on bail in year
2018. The agencies kept Punjab Police updated
about his movement and the activities he was in-
volved in,” the official said
Narain Singh Chaura is a hardcore Pakistan
returned terrorist and former head of Akal Feder-
ation and had authored books on guerrilla warfare
and other seditious materials, according to sources. Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal moves under heightened security following an assassination at-
“He was involved in smuggling of weapons and
explosives into Punjab during the early years of tempt on him while he was serving his penance at the entrance of the Golden Temple, in Amritsar on Wednesday (ANI Photo)
militancy. He reportedly crossed into Pakistan in
1984 and remained there for several years before any cost. Punjab Police is doing good work. A few that he survived the attack. We spoke about the
he returned to Punjab. During his stay in Pakistan, people in the BJP and media are raising their voic- situation,” Omar Abdullah said. “It’s a matter of
he was remotely in touch with radical organiza- es about law & order in Punjab - the Punjab Police concern if, in daylight hours, a former deputy chief
tions in Punjab and helping them,” said a senior showed them that they thwarted a major mishap minister, a Z+ protectee, can be attacked like
official. due to their alertness. I would like to urge them to this. This needs to be looked at to ensure that this
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nation- also speak about the deteriorating law and order does not happen again because let’s not forget that
al convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday praised situation in Delhi,” he added. not long-ago Punjab went through a very difficult
the Punjab Police for successfully thwarting an Also, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister phase in the 80s and early 90s, and God forbid we
assassination attempt on Shiromani Akali Dal Omar Abdullah on Thursday expressed his con- see something like that again,” the Jammu and
(SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, calling the bid cern over the attack on former Punjab Deputy Kashmir Chief Minister added.
on Badal’s life part of a conspiracy against Punjab Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, calling for an In a related development, after Shiromani
and “Punjabiyat.” inquiry into the incident to restrict such kinds of Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia
“First of all, I would like to congratulate the incidents in the future. alleged that attack on former Deputy Chief Min-
Punjab Police that they foiled such a major mishap Speaking to the media, Abdullah shared that ister Sukhbir Singh Badal was an attempt to finish
with their alertness. This is an example for the en- he had talked to Sukhbir Singh Badal after the in- the leadership of Akali Dal, Punjab Congress chief
tire country that how good Policing can thwart any cident. “I spoke to Sukhbir. Yesterday, after the Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday said
major mishap. The mishap shows a major conspir- attack on him, I thanked the almighty that he sur- that people will decide whether it was or wasn’t
acy is being hatched against Punjab and Punjabiyat, vived. We discussed the situation,” Omar Abdul- plot to finish Akali Dal leadership.
to defame them,” Arvind Kejriwal told reporters lah said. He added that there was nothing personal like
in Delhi. “I spoke to Sukhbir. Yesterday after the attack that in the situation because the motive and inten-
“We should not let this conspiracy succeed at on him, I expressed gratefulness to the almighty tion of the accused is yet to be known.

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