Khalistani activist Narain Singh Chaura and Sukhbir Singh Badal

Who is Narain Chaura, the Khalistani leader who fired at Sukhbir Badal?

Narain Singh Chaura has a long history of involvement in militancy and Khalistani activities in Punjab. Chaura has around a dozen cases lodged against him.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Narain Chaura has a history of involvement in militancy and Khalistani activities
  • Has been associated with banned organisations like Babbar Khalsa
  • Fled to Pakistan in 1984, fuelled insurgency in Punjab

Narain Singh Chaura, who has a long history of involvement in militancy and Khalistani activities in Punjab, attempted to shoot at former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal inside the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday. The incident happened when the wheelchair-bound Sukhbir Badal was on "punishment" guard duty at the temple.

Chaura (68), however, was overpowered by temple officials present on the spot and handed over to the police. Chaura, who has been associated with banned organisations like Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), has around a dozen cases lodged against him, including charges of smuggling arms and explosives.

Sukhbir Badal shot at, CCTV captures moment shooter walked up, opened fire

WHO IS NARAIN SINGH CHAURA?

  • Born on April 4, 1956, in Chaura village near Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur), Narain Chaura has been allegedly associated with organisations such as the Khalistan Liberation Force and the Akal Federation. He is accused of helping the mastermind of the Burail jailbreak case by providing clothes and other items to the prisoners.
  • Chaura maintained close ties with prominent terrorists, including Jagtar Singh Hawara, Paramjit Singh Bhiora and Jagtar Singh Tara, accused of assassinating former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.
  • Narain Singh reportedly fled to Pakistan in 1984 during the initial phase of terrorism in Punjab. There, Narain Singh played a key role in fuelling the insurgency in Punjab, smuggling arms and explosives into the border state.
  • In Pakistan, he reportedly wrote books on guerrilla warfare and seditious literature. He authored a controversial book titled 'Khalistan Viruddh Saazish'.
  • Chaura has always been against the Badals, who are considered moderates. Chaura is part of the Hawara group, which has been against the Badals since the 1980s.
  • Narain Singh has been named as an accused in nearly a dozen cases. Cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) have been registered in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ropar districts.
  • Narain Singh was first arrested on February 28, 2013, in Tarn Taran. After interrogating him, the police raided a hideout in Mohali and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition.