2 weeks ago
Sukhbir Singh Badal Attacked at Nanded Gurdwara; Attacker Arrested
A very important leader in India named Sukhbir Singh Badal was visiting a Sikh holy place, called a gurdwara, in the city of Nanded.
While he was there, a man attacked him with a special religious knife called a kirpan.
The man, named Jaspal Singh, had worked at the gurdwara for two years.
Police caught him right away and arrested him.
Badal was hurt, but he is reported to be stable.
His wife, Harsimrat Kaur, was with him but was not hurt.
The leader of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, asked police to investigate why the man did it.
No one is sure of the reason yet, though one news report says the attack happened after an argument.
Reports disagree about where the attack happened and exactly how Badal was injured.
Two years earlier, in December 2024, Badal also survived an attack at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a kirpan at a gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra, on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
The accused, Nihang Jaspal Singh, who had reportedly worked at the gurdwara for two years, was arrested immediately after the attack, Nanded Police confirmed.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered an inquiry into the attack and its motive; Badal told him by phone that he is stable.
Reports differ on details: one says security foiled a stomach stab attempt, while others say Badal suffered an arm or hand injury and was taken to a private hospital, with a security officer also injured.
Badal's wife, MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, was present but was not attacked and is safe; it was his second major security scare since a December 2024 shooting at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
- Who
- Sukhbir Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister; the accused, Nihang Jaspal Singh; and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
- What
- Badal was attacked with a kirpan at a gurdwara in Nanded; the attacker was arrested and an inquiry into the motive was ordered
- Where
- Nanded, Maharashtra, India — identified as Hazur Sahib Gurudwara in one report and Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur in another
- When
- Thursday, August 13, 2026, around 11 am
- Why
- The motive is not yet clear; one report says the attack followed an argument, and police are investigating
Key facts
- Victim
- Sukhbir Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister
- Accused (arrested)
- Nihang Jaspal Singh
- Location
- Nanded, Maharashtra, India — Hazur Sahib Gurudwara (one report) or Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur (others)
- Date and time
- Thursday, August 13, 2026, around 11 am
- Injuries
- Reports differ — stomach stab attempt foiled by security vs. arm/hand injury treated at a private hospital; a security officer (Inspector Santosh Kendre) also hurt
- Wife present
- Harsimrat Kaur Badal, MP — not attacked, safe
- Security cover
- Z-plus
- Context
- Second major security scare since a December 2024 attack at the Golden Temple, Amritsar; visited Takht Sri Patna Sahib earlier that morning
Quotes
Nanded Superintendent of Police Rohan Neelabh
Police officer who reported the arrest
“"I have ordered an inquiry into the attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal chief and the motive behind it."”
news18.com
“"The accused, identified as Nihang Jaspal Singh, was arrested immediately."”
news18.com
Sources
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