Archive · 16 Aug 2026
SAD MP seeks NIA probe into attacks on Sukhbir Badal
Sukhbir Singh Badal is an important leader of a political party in India called the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Someone hurt him with a big sword at a holy place called a gurudwara in Nanded, while he was leaving with his wife and children.
His arm was badly hurt, and doctors needed a very large number of stitches to fix it.
This is not the first time he was attacked, as someone also shot at him in December 2024 at another holy place, the Golden Temple.
His wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, thinks the attacks are part of a bigger plan.
She wrote a letter to a top government official, Amit Shah, asking for a special investigation team, the NIA, to find out the truth.
She is upset that the person who attacked her husband before was set free after only three months.
She also believes some police officers and politicians did not do their jobs properly and did not strongly condemn the violence.
She wants everyone involved, police officers, politicians, or anyone else, to be caught and punished.
SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the attacks on her husband and party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Sukhbir Badal was attacked with a sword by an unknown man while leaving Takht Sri Hazur Sahib gurudwara in Nanded, Maharashtra, on Thursday.
Harsimrat said Sukhbir suffered severe injuries requiring 150 stitches on both sides of his right arm and displayed the alleged weapon, described as 1.5 feet long, sharp and pointed.
She recalled the December 4, 2024 shooting at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where the accused, former militant Narain Singh Chaura, described as an alleged IS operative, reportedly walked free within three months.
Harsimrat alleged the Aam Aadmi Party government backed the 2024 attack and that senior police officers, including then Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, weakened the case instead of condemning the violence.
- Who
- Sukhbir Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief and former Punjab deputy chief minister, who was attacked; his wife, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who demanded the probe; and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who received her letter.
- What
- A sword attack on Sukhbir Badal at a gurudwara in Nanded, which his wife alleges is linked to a December 2024 assassination attempt; she is demanding an NIA probe into both incidents.
- When
- The Nanded attack occurred on Thursday, three days before Harsimrat's Sunday address and letter; the earlier shooting took place on December 4, 2024.
- Where
- Takht Sri Hazur Sahib gurudwara in Nanded, Maharashtra; the previous attack was at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab.
- Why
- Harsimrat alleges a wider conspiracy and says the 2024 accused, described as an alleged IS operative and listed extremist, was released within three months because police weakened the case.
SAD's allegations
Punjab authorities' position
Investigation agency
SAD's allegations
SAD demands an NIA probe, alleging the attacks are part of a massive wider conspiracy.
Punjab authorities' position
Articles report no response from Punjab Police or the AAP government to the NIA probe demand; the 2024 case has so far remained with state authorities.
Handling of the 2024 attack
SAD's allegations
Harsimrat alleges then Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar appeared to exonerate the assailant and suggested the attack could have been staged by Sukhbir Badal to gain sympathy.
Punjab authorities' position
Articles report no defence from Bhullar; he was recently transferred from his post following controversy over his purported statement linking ISI-backed terror modules to Jantar Mantar protesters.
Release of the previous accused
SAD's allegations
Harsimrat alleges the December 2024 accused, Narain Singh Chaura, described as a listed extremist and alleged IS operative, was released within three months because the police case was weakened.
Punjab authorities' position
No response from the Punjab government or the accused is reported; Harsimrat herself says senior government members publicly appeared to justify the attack as an expression of understandable anger.
- Complainant
- SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal
- Letter recipient
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah
- Demand
- NIA probe into attacks on Sukhbir Singh Badal
- Latest attack
- Sword attack at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded, Maharashtra
- Injuries
- 150 stitches on both sides of right arm
- Alleged weapon
- 1.5 feet long, sharp and pointed
- Previous attack
- December 4, 2024 shooting at Golden Temple, Amritsar
- 2024 accused
- Narain Singh Chaura, former militant and alleged IS operative
