Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was allegedly attacked with a ‘kirpan’ inside a gurdwara, underwent surgery that lasted for about 90 minutes and is now stable, doctors treating him said on Friday (August 14, 2026).

The former Punjab deputy Chief Minister will be discharged on Friday (August 14, 2026) and is likely to be flown to Punjab in the afternoon, an official said.

“The surgery lasted for an hour and a half. There was a tendon injury, and he had a sharp penetrating wound. His tendon was repaired. The plastic surgeon also repaired his ulnar artery nerve. He is out of danger,” said a doctor from the hospital.

Mr. Badal was attacked by a person during a visit to a gurudwara in Nanded district in Maharashtra on Thursday (August 13, 2026), the police said. Mr. Badal suffered a hand injury in the attack by the person wearing the attire of a Nihang Sikh.

According to sources, the accused, identified as Jaspal Singh, worked as a court clerk. He has been a sevadar at Mata Sahib for the past two years. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a probe into the attack, directing the police to investigate motive.

He has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, and voluntarily causing grievous hurt to a public servant to deter them from performing their duty.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal thanks PM Modi, Shah

MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Mr. Badal’s wife, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for extending their support.

In an X post on Friday (August 14), Ms. Badal said that she is grateful to Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah for, “taking immediate cognisance of the incident and directing central investigating agencies to coordinate with Maharashtra police in the probe.”

She further added, “Thank you for your commitment to ensuring an effective probe into this painful incident which is a grave violation of the fundamental tenets of the great Sikh religion.”

(With inputs from PTI)

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked by a person allegedly wearing the attire of a Nihang Sikh in Maharashtra’s Nanded on Thursday (August 13, 2026).

The accused person has been arrested, Nanded Collector Rahul Kardile said.

Mr. Badal, who was attacked at the Mata Sahib Gurudwara of Nanded, suffered a minor injury on the hand. He is stable and out of danger, Mr. Kardile added. His wife, Lok Sabha MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, was also present at the time of the incident.

In 2024, Mr. Badal had averted an assassination bid after a former militant and pro-Khalistan sympathiser opened fire at him outside the Golden Temple in Punjab’s Amritsar, where he was performing penance for his ‘mistakes’.

Mr. Badal escaped unhurt in the incident even as the accused was overpowered by security police personnel. He was sitting at the entrance of the Golden Temple, attired in the dress of a ‘sewadar’ performing the penance, when the accused person drew a gun to shoot.

SAD demands high-level probe

Senior SAD leader Daljit Cheema demanded a high-level independent inquiry into the incident.

“Mr. Badal was in Nanded and after paying obeisance at Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Gurudwara, he had gone to another Gurdwara nearby, when a person in his mid-sixties attacked him with a ‘kirch’ (dagger). The person was wearing traditional attire (bana). What is the actual conspiracy behind the incident, and who is the person? Whether he is actually a Nihang or belongs to some group will only be known after the investigation,” Mr. Cheema told The Hindu.

“This is a serious matter. Whenever Akali Dal rises, conspiracies start right then,” he added.