Security – Nihang Groups Continue Protest as Talks Delay March Into Uttarakhand

Security – More than 150 Nihang Sikhs have assembled at the historic Paonta Sahib Gurdwara in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district, where they are waiting for the release of four members of their community who were arrested after a violent confrontation in Uttarakhand. The gathering has become the centre of discussions as community leaders insist they will not leave for Punjab until the detained Nihangs are freed.

Community Leaders Stand Firm on Their Demand

According to sources, senior members of the Nihang groups have been holding a series of meetings to decide their next course of action. They have maintained that their protest will continue peacefully unless the four arrested individuals are released. The gathering has remained stationed at the gurdwara while awaiting a response from the Uttarakhand administration.

March Suspended After Administrative Assurance

Earlier this week, a Nihang jatha attempted to move into Uttarakhand through the Dehradun border but encountered heavy police deployment. The group and security personnel briefly clashed as authorities prevented them from entering the state.

Following discussions with officials, the planned protest march was temporarily suspended. Jagdeep Singh Akali, who is leading the Nihang delegation, said the Uttarakhand administration had requested two days to address their concerns. In view of those assurances, the group agreed to postpone its march but warned that demonstrations would resume if no satisfactory outcome emerged.

Tension Linked to Karnaprayag Incident

The present standoff traces its origins to an incident that took place in Karnaprayag market in Chamoli district on June 16. A dispute involving local residents and a group of Nihang Sikhs reportedly escalated into violence, leaving several local people and one Nihang injured.

Following the clash, police registered a criminal case and arrested four Nihang members. Their detention has since become the central issue behind the ongoing protests and demonstrations by members of the Sikh sect.

Police Maintain Vigil Along Interstate Border

As tensions increased, security agencies strengthened surveillance near the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border. During Thursday’s confrontation, some protesters managed to cross police barricades while attempting to proceed towards Hemkund Sahib, an important Sikh pilgrimage destination in Uttarakhand.

After fresh negotiations with police officials, the group agreed to withdraw from the border area. They later returned under police escort and took shelter at the Paonta Sahib Gurdwara, where they continue to remain.

Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Dobal stated that while a small number of people and a few vehicles crossed the checkpoint, they eventually agreed to return after discussions with the authorities.

Earlier Nagarasu Gurdwara Protest Added to Concerns

The current situation follows another related episode that unfolded in Nagarasu on the Badrinath Highway. Around half a dozen Nihang members had climbed onto the roof of the local gurdwara and reportedly held an elderly man while demanding the release of those arrested in the Karnaprayag case.

The tense situation was eventually resolved on June 23 after multiple rounds of talks involving the district administration, the gurdwara management committee, and representatives of the Nihang community who had travelled from Punjab. While that incident ended peacefully, the demand for the release of the four arrested members continues to drive the ongoing protest at Paonta Sahib.