Sukhbir Badal, the former deputy chief minister of Punjab and Akali Dal chief, was hospitalised following an attack by a Nihang Sikh wielding a kirpan, according to an NDTV report on Thursday.
Badal was attacked while attacked at the outskirts of Nanded, Maharashtra, after visiting a gurudwara there. Badal was rushed to a private hospital in the city, Akali Dal told NDTV, that he was injured in the hand and that it was not life-threatening. Badal received stitches on his hand after the attack.
The attacker had attempted to stab Badal with the kirpan but failed to do so when his security personnel intervened and attempted to thwart him. A member of the security staff, Santosh Kendre, also ended up sustaining injuries from the attack.
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Authorities have taken the attacker into custody.
The attack took place at the gurudwara when Badal was walking down the stairs after offering prayers. Badal had gone to the gurudwara with his family. Badal's wife and Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal was with him when the attack took place.
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The attacker has been identified as Jaspal Singh. The attacker was working at the gurudwara for the past two years.
A statement from the Nanded Superintendent of Police said that the attack took place at Gurdwara Mata Sahib at village Muga in Nanded. "Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal was on a tour of Nanded district. Today, Aug. 13, 2026, at around 1:50 p.m., after completing his darshan at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Deva Ji, village Muga, Taluka Mudkhed, a Sikh sevadari attacked him with a dagger, injuring him," the SP office said.
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