Harsimrat Badal Seeks NIA Probe Into Attack on Sukhbir Badal, Links It to 2024 Incident

August 16, 2026

Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the alleged assassination attempt on SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal at Shri Hazur Sahib Gurdwara in Maharashtra’s Nanded on August 13.

In her letter, Harsimrat urged the Centre to order a high-level investigation into the latest attack as well as the earlier attempt on Sukhbir Badal at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on December 4, 2024.

She also sought an inquiry into whether the two incidents were connected and whether a larger conspiracy was involved.

Seeks Probe Into Possible Conspiracy

Harsimrat said an independent central investigation was necessary to establish the sequence of events, identify those involved and examine any possible extremist or foreign links.

She said the latest attack had raised serious concerns about Sukhbir Badal’s security, the sanctity of religious places and what she described as the normalisation of political violence in Punjab.

Sukhbir Badal suffered an injury to his right arm in the Nanded attack, while a security personnel who intervened to stop the attacker was also injured.

Harsimrat said the two attacks had several similarities, including that both took place at sacred gurdwaras while Sukhbir was engaged in religious service.

Questions Punjab Police Handling of 2024 Attack

The SAD MP also questioned the Punjab government’s and police’s handling of the December 2024 attack at the Golden Temple.

She alleged that the accused in that case, Narain Singh Chaura, had extremist antecedents and claimed that authorities had prior information about threats to Sukhbir Badal.

Harsimrat also raised questions over the alleged interactions between senior Punjab Police officers and Chaura before the attack and sought an independent examination of the circumstances.

She further questioned the handling of the case after the 2024 incident, including the registration of the FIR and the recording of statements of Sukhbir Badal and members of his security team.

Sukhbir Badal Injured in Nanded Attack

Sukhbir Badal was attacked with a kirpan by a Nihang man inside a gurdwara on the outskirts of Nanded on August 13. The attacker was arrested.

Sukhbir was discharged from a hospital in Nanded on August 14 and later admitted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram for further treatment.

He had earlier escaped an assassination attempt at the entrance of the Golden Temple in December 2024.

Harsimrat said the latest incident should not be viewed in isolation and reiterated her demand for an NIA investigation into both attacks.