Sukhbir Singh Badal attacked by Nihang at Nanded gurdwara, hand injured
Synopsis
Sukhbir Singh Badal has now survived two attacks in under a year — the latest inside a gurdwara in Nanded, where a Nihang lunged at him with a kirpan. With his security detail injured and his wife present at the scene, the assault underscores the deepening threat to one of Punjab's most prominent political figures at a time of acute factional tension within the Akali Dal.
Key Takeaways
Sukhbir Singh Badal , Shiromani Akali Dal chief, was attacked by a Nihang with a kirpan at Mata Sahib Gurdwara, Nanded on 13 August at around 11 am .
The attacker allegedly attempted to stab Badal in the stomach; security personnel intervened, limiting injury to his right hand , which required stitches.
Inspector Santosh Kendre , on special security duty, was also injured during the assault.
Badal's wife and Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal was present at the gurdwara when the attack occurred.
The attacker has been detained by Maharashtra Police; investigation is ongoing.
This is Badal's second attack in under a year — he survived an assassination attempt outside the Golden Temple, Amritsar on 4 December 2024 .
Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked by a Nihang armed with a kirpan at the Mata Sahib Gurdwara in the Hazur Sahib area of Nanded, Maharashtra, on Thursday, 13 August, at around 11 am. The assailant allegedly attempted to stab Badal in the stomach; security personnel intervened in time, limiting the injury to his hand. The attacker has been taken into custody and an investigation is underway.
How the Attack Unfolded
Badal had arrived in Nanded from Punjab and visited Takht Sri Hazur Sahib earlier in the day along with his family. His wife and Akali Dal Member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal was present on the premises when the attack occurred. The assault took place inside the gurdwara, according to Maharashtra Police.
A video recorded shortly after the incident showed Badal walking with a saffron cloth wrapped around his right hand. He was subsequently rushed to a private hospital in Nanded for treatment. Officials confirmed his injuries are not life-threatening; he received stitches on his hand and remained under medical observation.
Security Personnel Also Injured
Inspector Santosh Kendre, deployed on special security duty with Badal, sustained injuries while attempting to physically restrain the attacker. A senior police official confirmed that preliminary reports indicate Badal may have suffered injuries to areas beyond his hand, though the overall prognosis remains stable.
Second Attack on Badal in Eight Months
This is not the first attempt on the Akali Dal leader's life. On 4 December 2024, Badal survived an assassination attempt outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar. He escaped unharmed on that occasion; the gunman was swiftly overpowered and arrested. At the time, Badal was performing 'sewadar' duties at the Golden Temple after the Akal Takht had pronounced 'tankhah' — a formal 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.
The recurrence of violence against a senior political figure in a religious setting raises serious questions about the adequacy of security protocols at high-profile Sikh pilgrimage sites. This comes amid broader tensions within the Akali Dal and its relationship with various Sikh factions.
Investigation and Next Steps
Maharashtra Police have confirmed that one attacker has been detained. Further investigation is underway to establish motive and any possible conspiracy. Authorities have not yet ruled out the involvement of additional individuals. Security has been tightened at the gurdwara premises following the incident.
Point of View
One inside a gurdwara in Maharashtra — point to a security failure that goes beyond personal protection lapses. Badal's vulnerability is partly structural: he has been performing public religious duties under Akal Takht's 'tankhah' order, which places him in open, crowd-heavy settings with reduced political insulation. The recurrence also signals that the Akali Dal's internal fractures and its fraught relationship with hardline Sikh factions are producing real-world danger, not just political noise. Authorities must now answer why, after December 2024, security protocols at pilgrimage sites were not substantially upgraded for a figure of his profile.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Sukhbir Singh Badal in Nanded?
Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked by a Nihang armed with a kirpan at the Mata Sahib Gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra, on 13 August at around 11 am. The attacker allegedly attempted to stab him in the stomach; security personnel intervened and he sustained an injury to his right hand, which required stitches. His injuries are not life-threatening.
Who carried out the attack on Sukhbir Badal?
According to reports, the attacker is a Nihang — a member of a Sikh warrior order — who was armed with a kirpan. The individual has been detained by Maharashtra Police and is under investigation. Authorities have not yet publicly disclosed the attacker's identity or motive.
Was anyone else injured in the Nanded gurdwara attack?
Yes. Inspector Santosh Kendre, deployed on special security duty with Badal, was also injured while attempting to restrain the attacker. He was the only security personnel reported to have been hurt in the incident.
Has Sukhbir Badal been attacked before?
Yes. On 4 December 2024, Badal survived an assassination attempt outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar. He escaped unharmed on that occasion and the gunman was arrested. The Nanded attack is the second such incident in under a year.
Why was Sukhbir Badal at the Nanded gurdwara?
Badal had travelled to Nanded from Punjab and visited Takht Sri Hazur Sahib — one of the five Takhts, or seats of temporal authority, in Sikhism — along with his family. His wife, Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, was also present at the gurdwara when the attack occurred.
