Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Maharashtra Cop Foils Kirpan Attack on Sukhbir Badal in Nanded
A very scary thing almost happened in India.
Sukhbir Badal is the leader of a political group called the Shiromani Akali Dal, and he used to be the deputy chief minister of Punjab.
He was visiting a Sikh holy place, called a gurdwara, in the city of Nanded.
A man named Jaspal Singh tried to hurt him with a kirpan, a type of blade.
A brave police officer named Santosh Vaijnath Kendre saw what was happening and jumped in front of the leader to protect him.
He acted like a human shield, and the blade cut his hand instead of hurting the leader more seriously.
The officer was bleeding but still managed to stop the attacker, who was then caught by the police.
Badal hurt his hand and needed surgery, but he was discharged from the hospital the next day.
The officer got stitches for his wound, and Badal's wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, thanked him for being so brave.
Sukhbir Singh Badal, chief of the Shiromani Akali Dal, was attacked with a kirpan at a gurdwara in Nanded on Thursday afternoon.
Inspector Santosh Vaijnath Kendre of the Maharashtra Police Special Protection Unit pushed his hand forward and blunted the attack, acting as a 'human shield'.
Kendre suffered a two-inch slash on his right palm and received eight to ten stitches, with no nerve or muscle injury.
The attacker, Jaspal Singh, a Nihang Sikh associated with the gurdwara, was detained by police immediately after the incident.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal praised Kendre on X and personally thanked him at Yashosai Hospital, where he said he had simply done his duty.
- Who
- Sukhbir Singh Badal, chief of the Shiromani Akali Dal and former Punjab deputy chief minister; Inspector Santosh Vaijnath Kendre of the Maharashtra Police Special Protection Unit; attacker Jaspal Singh, a Nihang Sikh
- What
- A foiled kirpan attack on Badal: Kendre pushed his hand forward to blunt the weapon's blow and overpowered the attacker before serious injury occurred
- When
- Thursday afternoon, at around 1:45 pm
- Where
- Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat, Nanded, Maharashtra
- Why
- The attacker allegedly intended to stab Badal in the stomach; no motive is stated in the articles
- SAD chief
- Sukhbir Singh Badal
- Location of attack
- Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat, Nanded, Maharashtra
- Time of attack
- Around 1:45 pm on Thursday
- Attacker
- Jaspal Singh, a Nihang Sikh associated with the gurdwara; detained by police
- Hero officer
- Inspector Santosh Vaijnath Kendre, Maharashtra Police Special Protection Unit
- Kendre's injury
- Two-inch slash on right palm; eight to ten stitches; no nerve or muscle damage
- Badal's treatment
- Surgery at a private Nanded hospital; discharged Friday afternoon
- Kendre's service record
- Joined Maharashtra Police as a constable in 2001; later rose to inspector
