Amritsar: A day after Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal had a narrow escape after a former Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist opened fire at the leader while he was performing ‘sewa’ as part of a religious punishment at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, another leader from his party, Bikram Singh Majithia claimed that a police officer in Amritsar was seen shaking hands with the shooter, identified as Narain Singh Chaura.
CP Amritsar Mr. Gurpreet Bhullar , when S. Sukhbir Singh Badal was doing sewa your SP Harpal Singh was shaking hands and meeting a militant Narain Chaura..what will you speak about it ? Have you any Answer?@cpamritsar @DGPPunjabPolice @PunjabPoliceInd @officeofssbadal pic.twitter.com/qs3fGEeoWq
— Bikram Singh Majithia (@bsmajithia) December 5, 2024
Majithia, who is also doing penance, posted a video that apparently showed Chaura meeting and interacting with a person, who according to the SAD leader was SP Harpal Singh.
Earlier, videos showed that the wheelchair-bound Badal, sitting at the gurdwara entrance, was looking for security cover as Chaura pulled out the gun. However, temple officials near the SAD leader overpowered the former militant.
Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Badal, a Z-plus protectee, had started guard duty at the Golden Temple after the Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of Sikhs, ordered him to do so. The order was pronounced for “mistakes” committed by the SAD government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017. These mistakes included incidents of sacrilege, and police firing at Kotkapura.
The Akal Takht has also asked Badal to perform the service of ‘sewadar‘ at Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, and Darbar Sahib in Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib for two days each, reports claimed.
Rupnagar Senior Superintendent of Police Gulneet Singh Khurana had said security arrangements were put in place for Badal’s ‘sewa’.
Plainclothes policemen were also deployed. According to reports, metal detectors were installed outside the gurdwara. SAD leaders Bikram Singh Majithia, Daljit Singh Cheema, Balwinder Singh Bhundar and Hira Singh Gabira, among others, were also doing penance at the gurdwara during the firing.
Badal’s wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, son Anantbir Singh Badal and daughters Harkirat Kaur Badal and Gurleen Kaur Badal also offered prayers at the gurdwara. They also cleaned dishes in the community kitchen
