Former deputy chief minister of Punjab Sukhbir Badal survived an assassination attempt on December 4th inside the Golden Temple. Had the attacker succeeded, it would have created ripples across the state. But the presence of mind of a team of Punjab Police constables led by an old family confidant ensured that Badal came out unscathed.
So who is the man who saved Sukbhir Badal?
As per reports, Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said alert police officers led by Jasbir Singh, who caught hold of the assailant as he whipped out his weapon, along with his colleagues Rishpal Singh and Parminder Singh, saved Badal in the nick of time. Police sources say Jasbir Singh has been part of the Badal family’s security detail for more than 15 years. He was earlier part of the inner circle of bodyguards assigned to protect former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal.
Badal was lucky. Many other world leaders have not been as fortunate. When a killer is out to hunt you down, a split-second can be the difference between life and death.
Who are the other world leaders who have faced assassination attempts?
Well, current President-elect Donald Trump immediately comes to mind. He had a close shave after surviving an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024. A gunman opened fire, and a bullet grazed Trump’s ear. The Secret Service shot dead the attacker, but a bystander was killed two others critically injured.
Trump isn’t alone.
Imran Khan, the now incarcerated former PM of Pakistan, also survived an assassination attempt in November 2022. He was shot in the leg during a political rally. Khan was rushed to the hospital and operated upon.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico survived multiple bullet injuries in May 2024. Interacting with a crowd during a government meeting, a man critical of his polices shot him. Fico underwent emergency surgery and has since recovered.
Which are the big politicians who were assassinated?
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated in July 2022 while delivering a campaign speech. The attacker used a homemade firearm, and Abe succumbed to his injuries shortly after being shot. There were undeniable flaws in security for Abe, the head of police in the area where the leader was assassinated said. Critics also said his bodyguards were sloppy, unlike the Punjab Police ones, who acted in the nick of time.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are among the world leaders who have survived assassination attempts. Members of their security detail have successfully thwarted these attempts.
