Amritsar, December 5, 2024 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau)- Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal was on Wednesday the target of an alleged assassination attempt at Golden Temple in Punjab’s Amritsar as a man opened fire, with the weapon pointing towards him, but missed his target after being overpowered by a policeman.
The shooting incident took place while Sukhbir Singh Badal and other SAD leaders were at the Golden Temple for performing duties under the religious punishment pronounced on them by the Sikh clergy.
This alleged assassination attempt comes four decades after Punjab Police deputy inspector general (DIG) AS Atwal lost his life at the same spot and in a similar shooting incident.
Atwal, an IPS officer posted as Jalandhar Range DIG, was shot dead by an unknown person when he stepped out of the Golden Temple complex after offering his prayers at around 11 am on April 25, 1983.
Varinderjit Singh, an 11-year-old boy, and Amritsar resident Kulwinder Singh were also injured in the attack and taken to a hospital. Varinderjitsuccumbed to his injury, according to an Indian Express report.
‘Killers danced around body’
The assailant had reportedly come from inside the Darbar Sahib complex with a rifle and reportedly ran back to the Darbar Sahib after committing the crime, the then Union Home Minister, PC Sethi, had informed in Parliament.
The incident had confirmed the information that the government was receiving regarding wanted criminals, including Dal Khalsa activists, taking shelter at religious places, Sethi had said.
Summary: In 1983, Punjab DIG Avtar Singh Atwal was shot outside the Golden Temple, escalating tensions in the region. His assassination contributed to the political unrest that led to Operation Blue Star