Punjab: An elderly man opened fire at Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal near the entrance of the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday. The assailant was overpowered by bystanders and later taken into custody by the police. According to reports, the shooter has been identified as Narain Singh Chaura, a former Khalistani militant and ex-terrorist.
VIDEO | Punjab: A man opened fire at Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal at the entrance of Golden Temple, Amritsar. The person was overpowered by people present on the spot. More details are awaited.#PunjabNews #SukhbirSinghBadal
(Full video available on PTI… pic.twitter.com/LC55kCV864
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 4, 2024
Who Is Narain Singh Chaura?
Chaura had a history of involvement in militant activities and had previously been imprisoned for five years. He was associated with the Khalistan Liberation Force and the Akal Federation. In August 2018, he was granted bail by a court in Tarn Taran under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and was released from Amritsar Central Jail.
Chaura was arrested in 2013 from Jalalabad village in Tarn Taran. His accomplices, Sukhdev Singh and Gurinder Singh, were also arrested on the same day. During interrogations, the police raided a hideout in Kurali village of Mohali district and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition. Chaura faced numerous cases, including charges under the Explosives Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ropar districts.
Chaura’s Criminal History
His legal troubles date back to at least 2010 when he was booked under the Explosives Act at the Civil Lines Police Station in Amritsar. However, in March 2018, he was acquitted by an Amritsar court in one of these cases. His counsel, VP Singh Bhatia, confirmed the acquittal.
Chaura’s militant activities also involved smuggling weapons and explosives into Punjab. According to reports quoting police, he crossed over to Pakistan in 1984 and played a crucial role in bringing in large arms consignments during the early phase of militancy in Punjab. While in Pakistan, he allegedly authored a book on guerrilla warfare and other seditious literature. He was also implicated in the infamous Burail jailbreak case.
