Akali Dal workers blocked highways in Punjab this week following an armed attack on party leader Sukhbir Singh Badal [1, 2].
The incident has escalated tensions in the region, as party members express a lack of confidence in local security and law enforcement. The demand for a federal investigation suggests a deep political rift regarding the safety of opposition leaders in the state.
Parambans Singh Romana, an Akali Dal leader and eyewitness to the event, said details of the assault during an interview with NDTV [1]. The attack targeted Badal, sparking immediate reactions from his supporters and party officials.
In response to the violence, hundreds [2] of party workers gathered to stage protests across the state. These demonstrators blocked major highway routes to draw attention to the security breach and the perceived threat to Badal's life [2].
The protesters are specifically demanding that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) take over the case [2]. The party said that a central agency is necessary to ensure an impartial probe into the motives behind the armed assault [2].
Local authorities have not yet confirmed whether a CBI probe will be initiated. The Akali Dal said that the attack was politically motivated and represents a failure of the current security apparatus in Punjab [2].
“Hundreds of party workers gathered to stage protests across the state.”
The demand for a CBI probe indicates that the Akali Dal does not trust state-level police to conduct a fair investigation. By blocking highways, the party is using civil unrest to pressure the central government to intervene in Punjab's internal security matters, highlighting the volatile intersection of law enforcement and political rivalry in the state.
