Attack on Badal: Assailant Pune resident, serving as 'sewadar' at Nanded gurdwara, say police

 The man who allegedly attacked Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal inside a gurdwara near Maharashtra's Nanded city on Thursday was serving as a ‘sewadar’ there for the last two years, and hails from Pune, police said.

According to an eye-witness, he said "I surrender, I surrender" after allegedly attacking Badal with a 'kirpan'.

Earlier, police had said that the attacker was a member of the 'Nigang' order of Sikhs.

Jaspal Singh, the accused, is 60-62 years old and was serving as a sewadar or volunteer at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat, said a senior official.

During preliminary questioning he referred to the drug menace in Punjab but his exact reasons for attacking Badal were yet to be ascertained, said Nanded Superintendent of Police Neelabh Rohan.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is also conducting a probe into the matter along with the police, he said, adding that the condition of Badal, who is undergoing treatment, was stable.

Jaspal Sing holds commerce and law degrees, and is based in Pune with his family, said SP Rohan, adding that he was staying alone in Nanded.

''We have arrested him and interrogation is underway. We are checking his background....Initially he said he was angry about the drugs (problem) in Punjab. But the exact reason for the attack will come out only after a detailed investigation. We have also not come across any gang connection or criminal background of the attacker," the SP said.

Badal, a former Punjab deputy Chief Minister, was attacked around 1.45 pm at the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat, about 15 km from Nanded. He was rushed to hospital where he received two to three stitches on his right hand.

Ravinder Singh Bungai, former secretary of Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Apchalnagar Sahib gurdwara in Nanded, said he was present when the incident took place.

"He (Badal) had descended the steps and was at the place where devotees wash their feet. The attack took place all of sudden, before anybody could understand what was happening. (Accused) Jaspal Singh said, 'I surrender.. I surrender' after the attack,'' he said.

It was shameful that such an act took place when someone was visiting a gurdwara, that too amid Z-plus security, Bungai said, adding that Maharashtra's Sikh community condemned the attack.

An ATS team visited Jasapl Singh's house in Pune and conducted an inquiry.

According to ATS officials, Singh has a wife and a married daughter. The wife is currently staying with one of their relatives, they said.