A day after surviving an assassination attempt, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal carried out religious service at Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Punjab’s Rupnagar district on Thursday, under tight security.
Badal, a former deputy chief minister and a Z-plus security protectee, was dressed in a blue ‘sewadar’ uniform as he performed his duties at the entrance of the Anandpur Sahib shrine. Holding a spear in one hand, he was accompanied by security personnel during his visit.
The service is part of a religious penance ordered by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of Sikhs, for mistakes made during the Shiromani Akali Dal’s rule in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.
The penance also requires Badal to serve at Takht Damdama Sahib, Darbar Sahib in Muktsar, and Fatehgarh Sahib, in addition to his duties at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Badal had narrowly escaped a shooting attempt on Wednesday while performing his penance at the Golden Temple. A former Khalistani terrorist fired at him at close range but missed, before being subdued by plainclothes police officers.
Police had implemented extensive security measures ahead of Badal’s visit to Takht Kesgarh Sahib.
Rupnagar Senior Superintendent of Police Gulneet Singh Khurana assured that foolproof arrangements were in place, including the presence of plainclothes officers. Other Shiromani Akali Dal leaders and supporters were also present at the gurdwara during Badal’s visit.