Nanded, Maharashtra — Shiromani Akali Dal president and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was injured in a knife attack inside a gurdwara in Nanded on Thursday and has been admitted to hospital, police said.
What happened at the gurdwara
Officials said the assault occurred at around 1.45 pm inside the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat (reports also refer to the Mata Sahib gurdwara near Takht Sri Hazur Sahib). Nanded Superintendent of Police Neelabh Rohan said a person dressed as a Nihang — a member of a Sikh martial order — attacked Badal with a kirpan, a curved dagger used in Sikh religious tradition. The attacker was overpowered and taken into custody.
"A Nihang (member of a martial order of Sikhs) attacked Badal with a kirpan (curved dagger) inside the gurdwara," Nanded SP Neelabh Rohan told PTI.
A local official said Badal required "two to three stitches" on his hand. Nanded Collector Rahul Kardile said Badal was stable and out of danger; Kardile also said a police inspector who intervened sustained injuries. The assailant was reported to have been seriously hurt in the incident.
Immediate official response
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called Badal to enquire after his health and has ordered a probe into the attack, according to state officials. The chief minister also sought information from the Nanded Superintendent of Police and directed investigation into the motive, sources said.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader R P Singh condemned the attack and urged a thorough and impartial inquiry.
Context and background
Badal, who was on a two-day visit to Nanded and visiting several gurdwaras, was performing his itinerary when the attack took place. Party sources said the gurdwara where the incident occurred is located on the outskirts of the city and is managed by a Nihang sampradaya rather than the board that administers the main Nanded Sahib complex.
The incident comes less than two years after an earlier attempt on Badal's life. In December 2024, he survived an assassination attempt while engaged in sewadar duty at the Golden Temple in Amritsar after a religious censure by the Akal Takht for alleged lapses during the party's previous rule in Punjab.
Security and investigative steps
Police said the suspect has been detained and the matter is under investigation. The Nanded administration has not released further details about the identity of the attacker, the exact circumstances that allowed him to approach Badal or the weapon recovered.
- Time: Around 1.45 pm on Thursday.
- Location: Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat, Nanded (reports also reference nearby Mata Sahib gurdwara).
- Victim: Sukhbir Singh Badal — minor hand injury; two to three stitches; admitted and stable.
- Accused: Person in Nihang attire; detained; reportedly seriously injured.
Implications for religious sites and political visits
The attack raises immediate questions about security arrangements at smaller religious sites, particularly those managed outside formal institutional boards. Nanded, a district with multiple historic Sikh shrines including Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, often receives political and religious visitors; ensuring adequate screening without disrupting devotional activity will be a key challenge for local authorities.
| Detail | Report |
|---|---|
| Injured | Sukhbir Singh Badal — hand injury, 2–3 stitches |
| Accused | Person in Nihang attire — detained, seriously injured |
| Officials involved | Nanded SP Neelabh Rohan; Nanded Collector Rahul Kardile; CM Devendra Fadnavis |
Investigating officers have been asked to determine the motive and circumstances that allowed the attacker to approach Badal despite the presence of security personnel. Further updates are expected as hospital authorities and the police provide more information.
Local residents in Nanded expressed concern at the breach of security inside a place of worship, saying prompt clarification on how the suspect entered the precinct and whether he had prior access will be important to restore public confidence.
Officials have not yet released the name of the detained person or detailed medical updates on the police inspector who intervened. The inquiry by state police is likely to include statements from witnesses, temple management and Badal's security team.
This report is based on statements from local police and administration officials and agency dispatches available on the incident in Nanded.
