In a shocking incident unfolded at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday when a man opened fire at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. The shooting occurred at the entrance of the holy shrine, where Badal was present to offer ‘seva’ (religious service) as part of his penance.
#WATCH | Shots fired at Golden Temple | SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema says, “…First of all, I would like to thank Guru Nanak. Jako Rakhe Saaiyan, Maar Sake Na Koy. ‘Sevaks’ were offering ‘seva’ here. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was sitting by the Guru Ram Das Dwar as… pic.twitter.com/r7ntTcCA01
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2024
According to eyewitnesses, the man fired shots at Badal as he arrived at the temple. However, before he could cause any harm, the assailant was quickly overpowered by people in the vicinity, including security personnel and temple devotees. The situation was swiftly brought under control, and the suspect was detained by the authorities.
Police arrived at the scene shortly after and arrested the man, who has not yet been publicly identified. Initial investigations suggest that the assailant acted alone, but the motive behind the attack remains unclear. Authorities have launched a thorough inquiry into the incident and are reviewing security footage from the area to gather further information.
The attack has sparked concern over the safety of political leaders, especially during religious events at such prominent places like the Golden Temple. Local authorities have assured the public that security will be enhanced around the temple and other key sites in Amritsar to ensure the safety of visitors and public figures.
The police investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming hours as authorities piece together the events leading up to the attack.
