Who is Narain Singh Chaura, former Khalistani extremist who opened fire at Sukhbir Badal outside Golden Temple?

Chaura was nabbed by the police on Wednesday after he opened fire at Sukhbir Singh Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal escaped unhurt after a man opened fire at him while he was performing the duty of ‘sewadar’ outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

The man, identified as Narain Singh Chaura, was overpowered by some people standing outside the temple.

- Narain Singh Chaura is a former militant with a history of involvement in criminal activities linked to separatist movements. He is a resident of a village called Chaura in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district.

- He has reportedly been associated with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), one of the oldest Khalistani separatist groups. He was associated with the Khalistan Liberation Force and Akal Federation, according to a News18 report.

-Chaura was arrested in 2013 under the sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and reportedly spent five years in jail. He was granted bail in 2018.

- He is considered the mastermind behind the 2004 Burail jailbreak case, a complex operation involving the digging of a 94-foot tunnel that facilitated the escape of four prisoners.

- Chaura was nabbed by the police on Wednesday after he opened fire at Sukhbir Singh Badal. Badal was sitting in a wheelchair when the incident took place. The bullet hit a wall.

Badal has been performing the duty of ‘sewadar’ outside the Golden Temple since Tuesday.

Pronouncing the 'tankhah' (religious punishment) for Badal and other leaders for the "mistakes" committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017, the Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht on Monday directed the senior Akali leader to serve as a 'sewadar', and wash dishes and clean shoes at the Golden Temple.

Before the pronouncement of the edict, Sukhbir Badal admitted his mistakes, including pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2007 blasphemy case during the SAD's rule in Punjab.

(With agency inputs)