Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, was attacked on Friday by the attacker at Hazur Sahib Gurudwara in Nanded, Maharashtra. Police investigation of the incident and motive behind the assault is ongoing in the case and investigators were not satisfied with the explanation of the attacker in the course of interrogations.
Nihang Jaspal Singh has been identified as the accused. Singh allegedly approached Badal while he was at the gate of the gurudwara and attacked him with a kirpan, according to preliminary information. Security forces intervened quickly to prevent the assault from becoming more serious. The accused was later taken into custody by the police.
According to investigators, Jaspal Singh said he “just felt like doing it” and carried out the attack for that reason. But police don’t believe that’s still a compelling reason for what happened. They said investigators are now trying to know what type of personal, political or other motive was there for the assault.
The attack occurred when Badal was visiting Hazur Sahib for obeisance. According to sources, he was heading towards the langar area when the accused moved towards him with a kirpan. Security personnel reacted immediately and managed to stop the attacker.
Badal was taken to a private hospital for medical treatment. The extent of his injuries was still to be determined after the incident. His wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal was also present at the gurudwara at the time. She was not targeted in the incident and was safe.
How did the accused manage to get to a very prominent religious leader of a major religious place and get his kirpan there and how did he get him to reach out to him? Police are looking into not only the motive but also the events leading up to the attack and the movements of the accused in the same place of worship.
Accused Had Worked At Gurudwara
One aspect that investigators are interested in is Jaspal Singh’s association with the gurudwara. According to sources, he had been working at the religious complex for around two years. His familiarity with the premises and the circumstances under which he approached Badal will be a crucial factor in the police investigation.
Investigators are also expected to examine the accused’s background, interactions with others and activities before the incident. Police may question people who knew him or had interacted with him to find out if there was any hostility or an intention to target Badal.
The statement that he “just felt like doing it” has failed to convince investigators because it does not establish why Badal was targeted. Police will keep investigating and look at the evidence before drawing conclusions about the motive.
The incident has also attracted attention because of Badal's political background. He has served as Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister and is also an active member of the Shiromani Akali Dal. If an attack on such a senior politician has a motive, the attack on such a high-profile politician’s political life would have far-reaching implications, and so a thorough investigation is very crucial.
Nanded, Maharashtra: SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked in Nanded. According to preliminary information, the man seen tying a turban in the video allegedly attacked Badal. Badal was admitted to a private hospital for treatment.
— IANS (@ians_india) August 13, 2026
(Source: Police PRO) pic.twitter.com/wkXrfw4Px5
Witness accounts, security video and questioning of the accused would lead authorities to establish the overall sequence of events. The investigation will also look for evidence of whether the attack was an isolated incident and not that someone else had to take part or was involved in the planning or facilitating of the attack.
And so far police have not accepted the accused’s claimed explanation as the most definitive manifestation of what led to the attack. The investigation and questioning will give more clarity on why Jaspal Singh attacked Sukhbir Singh Badal at Hazur Sahib.
The incident has once again brought into picture the necessity of security measures for political leaders, in places of worship and in other places where they visit. So far investigators have not ruled out that the main question is why did the accused attack Badal and whether it was a bigger motive behind the attack?
