The attack on Shiromani Akali Dal president and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal at Gurudwara Mata Sahib in Maharashtra's Nanded district has raised one key question: was the intention to seriously injure him or to kill him?
According to the Maharashtra Police, the accused, identified as Jaspal Singh, admitted during questioning that he intended to kill Sukhbir Badal by striking him in the chest with a kirpan, a ceremonial sword.
The attack took place on Thursday while Badal was returning after offering prayers at Gurudwara Mata Sahib, located around 15 kilometres from Nanded city, he escaped with an arm injury after instinctively raising his hand to protect himself. A police officer who intervened to stop the second strike was also injured, while the police have pointed to an alleged confession by the accused, the Gurudwara management has claimed that the attacker is mentally unstable. The investigation is still underway.
According to Nanded Superintendent of Police (SP) Nilabh Rohan, Sukhbir Badal reached Gurudwara Mata Sahib at around 1:45 pm to pay obeisance and after completing his prayers, he began descending the stairs of the Gurudwara when a local sevadar suddenly approached him. Police said the accused drew his kirpan and immediately aimed a blow at Badal's chest, however, before the weapon could strike his chest, Badal raised his arm in self-defence. The blade hit his arm instead, causing a deep cut.
Doctors later treated the injury and reportedly administered eight to nine stitches to close a wound measuring around five centimetres. A video recorded after the incident showed Badal walking with a bandage wrapped around his right hand.
According to the Maharashtra Police, the answer is yes. During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that he wanted to kill Sukhbir Badal by striking him in the chest and the police said the first blow was specifically aimed at Badal's chest. Had he not reacted immediately by raising his arm, the injury could have been far more serious.
The investigation has also revealed what police believe was the motive behind the attack and according to SP Nilabh Rohan, the accused told investigators that he was angry over the drug problem in Punjab and that this anger motivated his actions.
Police are continuing their investigation to determine whether the attack was premeditated and whether the accused acted alone.
The incident could have turned even more serious had Maharashtra Police inspector Santosh Vaijnath Kendre not intervened and according to officials, the accused attempted to launch another strike after injuring Badal, before that could happen, Inspector Kendre stepped in and physically restrained the attacker.
The officer sustained injuries while protecting Badal but succeeded in overpowering the accused, later, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Bathinda MP and Sukhbir Badal's wife, publicly thanked the officer. In a social media post, she said the officer had acted as a human shield and risked his own life to protect her husband.
She wrote that he had demonstrated the true meaning of wearing the uniform by choosing duty over personal safety.
The investigation has uncovered several details about the accused, Jaspal Singh and according to the Crime Branch, he holds a law degree, police said he spent most of his life in Pune's Camp area and worked in different professions over the years.
Investigators found that he had:
Practised law for some time.
Run a small newspaper.
Operated a snack shop in Pune's Camp area for around three years.
The snack business was eventually shut down and his wife works as a teacher at an English-medium school in Pune, where she lives with her nephew. His married daughter also lives in Pune.
During questioning, the accused's wife and other relatives reportedly told investigators that he maintained very little contact with the family, according to the police, he rarely communicated with relatives and seldom spoke to them. Following the attack, a team from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) searched his residence in Pune's Solapur Bazaar area.
Officials said they did not find any suspicious documents, literature or other material during the search.
The search operation reportedly continued until late at night.
According to investigators, Jaspal Singh arrived at Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded in 2024. He had been performing seva at the Gurudwara for around two years before the attack, however, Baba Jagga Singh, who manages the Gurudwara, offered a different perspective.
He stated that the accused was not mentally stable.
He also said that Jaspal Singh had been associated with the Gurudwara for the past two years and had been performing voluntary service there.
Sukhbir Singh Badal was on a two-day visit to Nanded district and he arrived in the city on August 12 along with his wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal. The couple visited several historical Sikh shrines during their trip, according to information shared by Gurudwara authorities, the family performed seva during the evening and night.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal reportedly continued washing utensils until around 1:30 am.
Earlier on the day of the attack, the family had visited Takht Sri Hazur Sahib before proceeding to Gurudwara Mata Sahib and after offering prayers at Gurudwara Mata Sahib, Badal was attacked while returning.