Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was targeted in a knife attack while in Nanded, Maharashtra, on Thursday. Reports indicate that the assailant attempted to stab Badal in the stomach, resulting in injuries that required him to be admitted to a private hospital for treatment.

The attacker, identified as Jaspal Singh, was taken into custody immediately following the incident. Footage of the arrest circulated in media reports, showing the moment the suspect was apprehended after his turban had come off during the struggle. Superintendent of Police Rohan Neelabh confirmed that the suspect is currently undergoing interrogation to determine the motive behind the attack.

In the aftermath of the incident, members of the Shiromani Akali Dal have publicly criticized the security arrangements surrounding the leader. Party officials characterized the event as a "total failure of intelligence," suggesting that the security lapse allowed the assailant to get close enough to carry out the attack. While police have confirmed the basic facts of the assault and the subsequent arrest, the investigation into whether the attacker acted alone or as part of a larger plot remains ongoing.