Sukhbir Badal attacker Chaura sent to 3-day police remand

A COURT in Amritsar on Thursday sent former Khalistani terrorist Narain Singh Chaura, who opened fire at Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal outside the Golden Temple on Wednesday, to three-day police remand, officials said.

Chaura (68), whose bid on the Akali leader's life was foiled by alert Punjab Police personnel present on the spot in plainclothes, was produced in the court amid tight security on Thursday.

Punjab Police demanded seven-day remand for Chaura, but the court granted three days, a defence counsel told reporters in Amritsar.

Chaura will be produced before the court again on December 8.

The counsel said Chaura has been booked under Section 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the Arms Act.

While seeking remand, police said it wanted to find out from where Chaura procured the weapon used in the crime.

Police also said it wanted to ascertain the motive behind the attack.

Chaura on Wednesday opened fire from a close range at Badal, who was performing the duty of 'sewadar' at the main gate of the Sikh shrine as a religious penance, but missed as he was overpowered by plainclothes policemen.

As Chaura tried to pull the trigger, an alert Punjab Police ASI pounced on him, grabbed his hands, 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 but fortunately the bullet hit the entrance wall of the shrine behind Sukhbir Badal, who escaped unhurt.

Sukhbir Badal performs 'sewa'

A day after he survived a bid on his life, Badal on Thursday performed the duty of 'sewadar' outside Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Punjab's Rupnagar district amid tight security.

The former deputy chief minister, who has been provided Z+ security, arrived at the Anandpur Sahib shrine surrounded by security personnel.

Dressed in blue 'sewadar' uniform, Badal sat at the entrance of the gurdwara with a spear in one hand for an hour from 9 am.

The wheelchair-bound SAD leader later listened to 'kirtan' and also washed dishes in the community kitchen.

Badal (62) is undergoing religious punishment pronounced by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of Sikhs, for "mistakes" committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and its government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.

Besides the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Akal Takht has asked Badal to perform the service of 'sewadar' at Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, and Darbar Sahib in Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib for two days each.

On the second day of his penance at the Golden Temple on Wednesday, Badal had a narrow escape.

On Thursday, police made elaborate security arrangements ahead of Badal's visit to Takht Kesgarh Sahib.

SAD leaders Bikram Singh Majithia, Daljit Singh Cheema, Balwinder Singh Bhundar and Hira Singh Gabira, among others, who are also doing penance were also present at the gurdwara.

Badal's wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, son Anantbir Singh Badal and daughters Harkirat Kaur Badal and Gurleen Kaur Badal also offered prayers at the gurdwara. They also cleaned dishes in the community kitchen. (PTI)