Bhubaneswar: Tuesday morning witnessed a sensational assassination bid on former Dy CM of Punjab and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, son of former Punjab CM and popular Sikh leader Prakash Singh Badal.
The sacred Golden temple premises stood stupefied when 68-year Narain Singh Chaura open fired at former Dy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal who was serving the punishment term ordained under the Akal Takht’s ‘Tankha’ system – a religious punishment.
As per the punishment ordained, Badal is serving as a guard, with a plaque of atonement hanging around his neck, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar for two days. Tuesday was Badal’s 2nd day and last day.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Tuesday morning when Sukhbir Badal was serving as guard at the gates of Golden Temple, suddenly bullets shots were fired at him. Fortunately, he came out unscathed as security personnel immediately provided a cover around him.
As per Punjab Police, none was injured in this failed assassination bid. Police have identified the 68 year old man who made an assassination bid on Badal’s life as Narain Singh Chaura.
WHO IS CHAURA?
As per the Punjab Police records, in 1984, Narain Singh Chaura had crossed over to Pakistan for smuggling in large consignments of weapons and explosives into Punjab during the initial phase of militancy. He crossed over to Pakistan thrice, and had returned to India in 1995. (The photo below is of 2018 when he was released on bail).
During his Pakistan stay, Police say he has authored a book on guerrilla warfare and “seditious” literature. He was also accused in Burail jailbreak case.
BURAIL JAILBREAK CASE: This eye-popping incident had rocked the national headlines in 2004 shedding poor light of high-profile jail’s security when 3 alleged assassins of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh escaped in the wee hours from a high-security Burail Model Jail by digging a 94-foot-long tunnel that went beneath three walled security rings. The 3 accused were Jagtar Singh Hawara, Jagtar Singh Tara, Paramjit Singh Beora.
CHAURA CRIME FILE
Narian Singh Chaura has been associated with Khalistan Liberation Force and former chief of Akal Federation.
- He was suspect in former Punjab CM Beant Singh Assassination case.
- He was lodged in jail under the UAPA (Anti-Terror Act) for storing large quantity of RDX explosives in 2013, when Sukbhir Singh Badal was Dy CM of Punjab.
- Chaura served a 5 year jail term in Amritsar central Jail
- As per his counsel VP Singh Bhatia, Chaura had an acquittal in a case under the Explosives Act.
- However, in 2018, bail was granted by a Taran Taran court in the UAPA case
- He has close links with banned outfit Babbar Khalsa.
The link was out open in public in the incident of Burail Jail Break case, where along with 3 accused assassins of former Punjab CM Beant Singh, Babbar Khalsa International Chief Jagtar Singh Hawara had escaped in 2004.
