Narain Singh Chaura, who attacked Badal, was a member of Babbar Khalsa International

New Delhi: The man arrested for carrying out an audacious attack on former deputy chief minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal, had allegiance to a banned Khalistani outfit and was facing 21 criminal cases, registered during 1980-90, at the peak of the Khalistan movement, the Punjab Police has said. The shooter, identified as Narain Singh Chaura (68), is a former member of banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a Khalistani terrorist organisation.

Punjab Special DGP (Law & Order) Arpit Shukla said that Chaura has more than 21 criminal cases registered against him. Police is interrogating him and questioning him to find out whether more people or any pro-Khalistan elements from abroad are involved in the conspiracy, he added. He was also involved in the 2004 Burail jailbreak case. He helped terrorists Jagtar Singh Hawara, Paramjit Singh Bheora and two others escape from prison, Shukla added. He was released on bail and has been acquitted in a few cases.

Shukla added that a detailed security deployment was in place, with 175 police personnel in plain clothes on duty, led by an AIG-level officer. He credited the timely intervention of the police personnel, including Rashpal Singh, who identified Chaura and followed him as he attempted to fire at Badal.


The Shiromal Akali Dal (SAD)chief is under Z-plus security, with protection from both Punjab Police and central forces. Shukla added the incident was thwarted as there was a huge deployment of police force in and around the temple, he said.