Sukhbir Badal attacked with kirpan at Nanded gurdwara, cop injured while foiling assault: How it unfolded

Shiromani Akali Dal president and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a kirpan.

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Shiromani Akali Dal president and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a kirpan while visiting Mata Sahib Gurdwara at the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded on Thursday, with a police inspector sustaining injuries while protecting him.Badal, who was accompanied by his wife and SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and security personnel from Punjab as well as Maharashtra police, suffered an injury to his hand in the incident.He was immediately taken to Yasho Sai Hospital in Nanded for treatment. He is reported to be out of danger.The attack took place when Badal, who is on a religious visit to the gurdwara, was attacked by an unsuspected Nihang. Security personnel intervened and overpowered the attacker before he could cause further harm.Police inspector Santosh Kendre, posted with the Special Protection Unit (SPU), Nanded police, was also injured while safeguarding Badal.The SPU is a special Maharashtra Police unit deployed in each district for the security and protection of VVIPs during their movement.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis sought information from the Nanded Superintendent of Police regarding the attack.The accused was arrested immediately and Fadnavis ordered an inquiry into the motive behind the attack. Fadnavis also spoke to Badal over the phone and enquired about his health who is now in stable condition.Police identified the attacker as 62-year-old Jaspal Singh, son of Teja Singh, a resident of Solapur Bazaar in Pune. He has reportedly been residing at Mata Sahib Gurdwara for the past two years.Police have launched an investigation into the attack and are probing the motive and circumstances leading to it. Security was stepped up in and around the gurdwara following the incident.