DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly condemned the attack on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was fired at while performing 'sewa' outside the Golden Temple on Wednesday morning, and directed police to investigate the incident. The chief minister, whose government came under fire from the opposition parties following the attack, lauded the promptness of the Punjab Police in nabbing the attacker.

He also said that the entire incident will be probed impartially.

A former terrorist opened fire at Badal from a close range while he was performing the duty of 'sewadar' outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday but missed as he was overpowered by a plainclothes policeman.

The audacious attack, which took place at around 9:30 am, was captured on cameras of media persons who had gathered outside the Sikh shrine to cover the second day of Badal's penance for "mistakes" committed by the SAD government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.

"Punjab Police prevented a major incident from happening today. It is the result of the promptness of the Punjab Police that the conspiracy to defame Punjab and Punjabis has failed," Mann said in a post on X.

"The police achieved great success by arresting the assailant on the spot with their promptness... I strongly condemn the attack on Sukhbir Badal ji. I have issued strict instructions to the police to immediately investigate the incident and submit a report," he added. Later, speaking to reporters in Mohali, Mann called it an unfortunate incident.

The chief minister, however, said the alertness of the Punjab Police prevented a big incident from happening.

The attacker, who has a criminal record, was arrested from the spot by the plainclothes police personnel, he said.

"I am in constant touch with the director general of police and senior officers of Punjab Police in Amritsar. I have given them strict instructions that the incident should be deeply probed, and very soon we will know the reasons behind the incident.

"We will not allow such conspiracies to defame Punjab succeed. I strongly condemn the attack on Sukhbir Badal," he said.

Mann said frisking of devotees cannot be done at the place where the incident took place.

He said the entire incident will be probed impartially and the accused will be given strict punishment.

Police identified the shooter as Narain Singh Chaura, a resident of Dera Baba Nanak. After the attack, he was whisked away by security officials.

(editor@dailyworld.in)