Police Inspector Injured While Foiling Attack on Sukhbir Badal in Nanded

Maharashtra Police Inspector Santosh Vaijnath Kendre sustained injuries while intercepting an armed attacker who attempted to assault Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal outside Mata Sahib Gurdwara in Nanded on Thursday afternoon.

The incident took place at around 1:45 pm as Badal was leaving the gurdwara premises following a visit to religious sites in the city. Before exiting, Badal had been interacting with devotees and taking photographs outside the shrine.

According to reports, an attacker approached Badal with a kirpan concealed beneath his shawl, allegedly intending to stab him in the stomach. Inspector Kendre, a member of the Maharashtra Police Special Protection Unit attached to Badal's security detail, spotted the movement and intervened immediately, acting as a human shield and overpowering the assailant.

Badal sustained a minor injury to his hand during the scuffle, while Kendre also suffered a hand injury. The attacker, identified as Jaspal Singh, a Nihang Sikh associated with the gurdwara, was detained by police at the scene.

Both Badal and Kendre received medical attention following the attack. Badal was taken to a private hospital in Nanded, while Inspector Kendre was admitted to Yashosai Hospital for treatment.

Badal's wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, visited Kendre at the hospital on Friday and publicly praised his quick response on social media, thanking him for risking his life to protect the SAD chief. Kendre, who joined the Maharashtra Police as a constable in 2001 before rising to the rank of inspector, stated that his swift intervention was part of his duty and training.