Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh 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.

The police said preliminary information suggests that the suspect used a kirpan (traditional dagger) to carry out the attack. Mr. Badal, who is on a two-day visit to Nanded district, had been visiting various gurudwaras when he was attacked at the Mata Sahib Gurudwara.

While media reports suggested that two people were involved in the attack, Nanded Superintendent of Police Abinash Kumar dismissed these claims. “Only one accused [is involved], a Nihang sevadar (volunteer), who worked at the gurudwara,” he said.

Separately, Nanded Collector Rahul Kardile said, “He [Mr. Badal] suffered a minor injury on the hand. He is stable and out of danger.” He added that the police Inspector who saved the SAD chief also sustained injuries. Mr. Badal’s wife, Lok Sabha MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, was also present at the time of the incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inquired about Mr. Badal’s health in a phone conversation with his wife after the attack.

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.

SAD termed the attack on Mr. Badal a direct attack on Punjab politics and the Sikh community. Senior party leader and former Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said: “This was the second murderous attack on Mr. Badal. The first took place at Sri Harmandir Sahib on December 4, 2024, and the second at Nanded Sahib today. The Central government must immediately hand over the investigation into both the Punjab and Maharashtra incidents to the Central Bureau of Investigation [CBI].”

“The CBI should also investigate whether there was any common conspiracy, local facilitation or involvement of foreign handlers in the two attacks,” he added.

Other key political parties also condemned the attack. “The violent attack on Mr. Badal in Nanded is a deeply disturbing incident that deserves the strongest condemnation. There can be no justification for violence in a democracy. Places of faith must remain sanctuaries of peace, harmony and security, irrespective of political differences,” said Congress’s Partap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly.

Bharatiya Janata Party Punjab president Kewal Singh Dhillon said such a violent incident taking place on the sacred premises of Hazur Sahib was deeply unfortunate and concerning. “Political differences are one thing, but violence or an attack of this nature is extremely unfortunate,” he said.

In 2024, Mr. Badal had escaped 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.