Know who Narain Singh Chaura, the Shooter behind the Attack on Sukhbir Badal Is

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal narrowly escaped an assassination attempt outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday. The incident took place as Badal, who was performing his penance, was seated in a wheelchair at the entrance of the temple. The assailant, identified as Narain Singh Chaura, opened fire at the former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, but the bullet missed its target, striking a nearby wall. The shooter was quickly subdued by bystanders and handed over to the police.

Chaura, a resident of Chaura village in Gurdaspur district, was quickly arrested. According to reports, the 68-year-old has ties to Babbar Khalsa. He is believed to be involved in multiple criminal activities, including the 2004 Burail jailbreak. Chaura is believed to have masterminded the jailbreak, where four high-profile prisoners, including Babbar Khalsa chief Jagtar Singh Hawara and the men behind the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, escaped after digging a tunnel.

Narain Singh Chaura has a long history of involvement in militant activities. He was arrested in 2013 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act but was granted bail in 2018. Chaura had been underground for several years and was active as a Panthic leader during his time with Babbar Khalsa International. He had reportedly been seen near Badal on Tuesday, dressed in a white kurta and pyjamas, before attempting the attack the following day.

Sukhbir Badal, has been serving a penance assigned by the Akal Takht, the highest religious authority in Sikhism, following his involvement in the 2015 sacrilege case. Badal began his penance on Tuesday, appearing at the Golden Temple entrance in a wheelchair with a plaque around his neck and a spear in hand. Despite his leg being in a cast, he continued to serve as instructed by the Akal Takht.

SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema called for a judicial inquiry, suggesting that the attack was part of a larger conspiracy to destabilize Punjab. “I want to ask Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann what he has done for the state,” Cheema said, emphasizing the need for accountability.

The police are continuing their investigation into the motive behind the attack and possible links to extremist groups. Authorities are looking into Chaura’s connections with Babbar Khalsa and his role in previous criminal activities.