Sukhbir Singh Badal Discharged from Nanded Hospital Following Kirpan Attack

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was discharged from Yashosai Hospital in Maharashtra's Nanded town on Friday afternoon, following surgery for injuries he sustained during a kirpan attack at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat.

The former Punjab deputy chief minister was discharged around 1:30 pm and proceeded to the Nanded airport to board a flight back to Punjab, according to local police officials.

Badal had been attacked on Thursday inside Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat, located on the outskirts of Nanded town, by a member of the Nihang order. Following the incident, he was rushed to Yashosai Hospital with a sharp penetrating wound to his right hand.

Doctors at the hospital performed a 90-minute surgery to repair damage to his hand. According to treating physicians, the attack had caused a tendon injury as well as damage to his ulnar artery nerve. Both were surgically repaired by specialists, including a plastic surgeon, and Badal was declared stable and out of danger on Friday morning.

Police identified the alleged attacker as Jaspal Singh, aged between 60 and 62 years. According to investigators, Singh holds degrees in commerce and law, and his family is based in Pune. However, he had been living alone in Nanded and serving as a sewadar, or volunteer, at the gurdwara for the past two years.

Authorities have registered a case against Singh under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The charges include attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, and voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter a public servant from performing their duty.

Police officials stated that an investigation is underway to determine the exact motive behind the assault on the political leader.