Maharashtra police officer showed heroic courage in saving Sukhbir Badal: Harsimrat Kaur Badal

Chandigarh: SAD leader and MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Friday lauded a police officer for showing heroic courage in saving the life of her husband and party president Sukhbir Singh Badal who was attacked in Maharashtra's Nanded.

The inspector "stood like a human shield" between Sukhbir and the attacker and even put his own life at risk to protect the SAD chief, she said.

"I salute Inspector Santosh Vaijnath Kendre of the Maharashtra Police's Special Protection Unit for showing heroic courage in saving Sukhbir Singh Badal ji's life during the attack in Nanded," Harsimrat, the Bathinda MP, said in a post on X.


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"Santosh, you stood like a human shield between Sukhbir ji and the attacker, putting your own life at risk to protect his. In doing so, you reminded us of what it truly means to wear the uniform -- to put duty before self and courage before fear," she wrote in the post.

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal, who has Z+ security cover, was injured in a kirpan attack inside a gurdwara on the outskirts of Nanded town on Thursday. He was rushed to a private hospital in the city, where he is currently undergoing treatment.

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Jaspal Singh, a Nihang (member of a martial order of Sikhs) attacked him with a kirpan (curved dagger), Nanded SP Neelabh Rohan told PTI.

Maharasthra Police said Jaspal Singh, who holds commerce and law degrees and hails from Pune, was taken to Nanded police headquarters for questioning.

Harsimrat added that the Badal family bowed to Inspector Kendre with deepest gratitude. "Your bravery will never be forgotten. May Waheguru bless you with a speedy recovery," she said.

"Also, a special mention for the doctors and the entire staff at the Yashosai Hospital for their relentless service in comforting us," she added in the post.