Court extends Sukhbir Badal attacker Chaura’s police remand by 2 days

The police remand of Narain Singh Chaura, the pro-Khalistan activist who attempted to shoot at former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, has been extended by two more days. Chaura was presented in court after his initial three-day police custody expired.

During the proceedings, the city police informed the court that they had not yet received the full CCTV footage from the Golden Temple, recorded on December 2 and December 4. The police had previously approached the court on December 9 with a similar request, alleging non-cooperation from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in providing the footage. However, after the intervention of the local court, the police claimed to have received the footage.

Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders, who had criticised the security arrangements around Badal, were in possession of the complete CCTV footage. The footage, shown to the media, reportedly revealed that Chaura had been moving freely around the Golden Temple complex in the days leading up to the assassination attempt.

Advocate Baljinder Singh Bajwa, son of Narain Singh Chaura, stated that the police had sought a five-day extension of his client's remand on the grounds that they needed the full CCTV footage from SGPC to determine who had accompanied Chaura in the Golden Temple. He also noted that the police had named another suspect, Dharam Singh, who is still at large.

Dharam Singh, a resident of Ekalgadda Khurd village in Tarn Taran, is believed to be a close associate of Chaura. Despite police raids on his native village, Dharam Singh remains absconding. Investigations continue as the police work to identify all individuals involved in the incident.

Badal narrowly escaped in the assassination attempt when Chaura shot at him at the entrance gate of the Golden Temple where he was undergoing “Tankhah” (religious punishment).