13 August,2026 04:19 PM IST | Nanded | PTI
Akali Dal chief and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is seen walking inside a building with a cloth wrapped around his right hand after he was attacked near a gurudwara, in Nanded district, Maharashtra, on Thursday. PIC/PTI
Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was injured in a knife attack at a gurdwara in Maharashtra's Nanded on Thursday, police said.
The attack took place at the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat in the Hazur Sahib area around 1.45 pm, when Badal was visiting the shrine, an official said.
According to preliminary information, the attacker, identified by sources as a Nihang, allegedly attempted to stab Badal with a kirpan. Security personnel intervened and prevented the attack from causing more serious injuries.
One person has been detained in connection with the incident, police said. A security personnel deployed for Badal's protection was also injured while trying to stop the assault.
Badal was rushed to a private hospital in Nanded for treatment. Sources said his condition was stable and his injuries were not life-threatening. He sustained an injury to his hand and received stitches, officials said.
A video recorded after the incident showed Badal walking with a saffron cloth wrapped around his right hand.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a probe into the attack and called Badal to enquire about his health, sources said.
Fadnavis sought information about the incident from the Nanded Superintendent of Police and directed the police to investigate the motive behind the attack, they added.
Badal had visited Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded earlier in the day along with his family. His wife and Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal was present when the attack occurred.
Inspector Santosh Kendre, who was deployed on special security duty, was also injured during the attack, according to sources.
Police have confirmed that one attacker has been detained and further investigation is underway.
Badal had arrived in Nanded from Punjab.
This is not the first attack on the Akali Dal leader. On December 4, 2024, he survived an assassination attempt outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar. He escaped unharmed, while the gunman was quickly overpowered and arrested.
At the time, Badal was performing 'sewadar' duties at the Golden Temple after the Akal Takht had pronounced 'tankhah' (religious punishment) on him and several other Akali Dal leaders for alleged mistakes committed during the party's rule in Punjab between 2007 and 2017.
(With PTI and IANS inputs)
