Daijiworld Media Network – Nanded

Nanded, Aug 14: Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was discharged from a hospital in Maharashtra’s Nanded on Friday, a day after he was injured in a kirpan attack inside a gurdwara, police said.

Badal was discharged from Yashosai Hospital at around 1.30 pm and proceeded to Nanded airport to return to Punjab, a police official said.

The former Punjab deputy chief minister underwent a 90-minute surgery after sustaining a sharp penetrating wound to his right hand. Doctors said a tendon injury was repaired, along with the ulnar artery and nerve, and confirmed that he was out of danger.

According to police, Badal was attacked on Thursday by Jaspal Singh, a member of the Nihang order, inside Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat on the outskirts of Nanded.

Singh, aged around 60-62, had reportedly been working as a sewadar at the gurdwara for the past two years. He is based in Pune with his family but had been staying alone in Nanded.

Police are yet to ascertain the motive behind the attack. The accused has been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt with dangerous weapons and voluntarily causing grievous hurt to a public servant while preventing them from performing their duty.

Badal had earlier survived an attempt on his life at the entrance of the Golden Temple in Amritsar in December 2024.