Nihangs Reach Accord with Uttarakhand Administration at Himachal Pradesh Border
NEW DELHI: A tense standoff between a group of Nihangs and the Uttarakhand administration concluded early Friday after successful negotiations. The Nihangs returned to Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh under police escort, marking the end of hours of uncertainty at the Kulhal checkpoint located in Dehradun’s Vikasnagar area.
This conflict erupted when the Nihangs clashed with police, breached barricades, and attempted to march towards Hemkund Sahib. They also canceled a planned protest regarding the June 16 clash in Karnaprayag.
According to officials, the Nihangs departed from the Race Course Gurdwara in Dehradun around 3:30 AM, traveling in two vehicles after discussions with police and local authorities. Dehradun’s Senior Superintendent of Police, Pramendra Dobal, confirmed that heavy police deployment had been maintained at the border throughout the day and thanked members of the Sikh community for their cooperation.
“A few individuals had crossed the checkpoint area, with one or two vehicles proceeding along the route. After lengthy discussions, they agreed to return,” Dobal informed PTI. District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan stated that the situation was resolved peacefully.
He shared, “Our Nihang sahibans returned to Paonta Sahib. About 150 Nihang Sikhs already present in Paonta Sahib offered their full cooperation, which helped bring the situation under control,” Chauhan added.
The initial protest was centered on the arrest of four Nihangs following a clash with local residents in Karnaprayag market on June 16. The protesters demanded their release, alleging biased police actions. They expressed their desire to continue their pilgrimage to Hemkund Sahib peacefully while seeking a resolution to the ongoing dispute.
This issue also led to a separate demonstration at the Nagarasu Gurdwara in Rudraprayag district earlier this week, which concluded after discussions involving the administration, gurdwara management, and Nihang representatives.
