Chandigarh, Aug 13 (PTI) The Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) condemned the attack on Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal inside the complex of Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji in Nanded, Maharashtra, on Thursday.
In a joint statement, SAD (Punar Surjit) leaders Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Sucha Singh Chhotepur and Parminder Singh Dhindsa said Sikh gurdwaras are shared places of worship for the entire Sikh community, where devotees not only pray for their own well-being but also seek ‘Sarbat Da Bhala’ (the welfare of all humanity).
They said a life-threatening attack on any devotee coming to such a sacred place to pay respects an extremely unfortunate and condemnable incident. The leaders also expressed concern and surprise over how an attacker could gain such easy access to a leader under Z-plus category security.
They said the circumstances surrounding the security breach warrant a thorough investigation.
Sixty-four-year-old Badal, the former deputy chief minister of Punjab, was attacked by a man with a kirpan (ceremonial dagger worn by Sikhs) while visiting the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat around 1:45 pm, according to the Maharashtra Police.
Nanded Superintendent of Police Neelabh Rohan told PTI, “A nihang (member of a martial order of Sikhs) attacked Badal with a kirpan inside the gurdwara. The assailant has been taken into custody.” Badal is protected by Z-plus category security. However, he is entitled to CISF cover only in Punjab and Delhi with a deployment of around 40 personnel. Punjab Police personnel were with him when the attack took place.
Police officer Santosh Kendre, who was part of the special protection unit, was injured while protecting him.
Badal was going down a flight of stairs at the time.
Visuals showed Badal walking inside a hospital building with a cloth wrapped around his right hand.
A local official in Nanded said Badal is out of danger. He was taken to a hospital where he received two to three stitches on his right hand, the official said.
Badal was accompanied by his wife and Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal at the time of the incident. PTI CHS ASD ASD
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