Nihang Sikhs Break Through Uttarakhand Barricades, March Towards Hemkund Sahib

Heavy security was deployed along the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border on Thursday.

After a group of Nihang Sikhs breached police barricades at the Kulhal checkpoint and moved towards Hemkund Sahib, triggering a tense standoff with authorities. The Uttarakhand administration had fortified the Kulhal barrier in Dehradun district after Nihang groups announced their march to the state over the ongoing dispute involving the Karnaprayag and Nagrasu gurdwaras.

District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pramendra Dobhal oversaw the security arrangements as police stepped up vehicle checks and maintained a tight vigil at the border.

The Nihang jatha, which began its journey from Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan in Mohali, was intercepted at the Kulhal checkpoint. Officials held multiple rounds of talks with the group at the border and later at the nearby Paonta Sahib Gurdwara in an effort to prevent them from entering Uttarakhand.

While several members of the group agreed to remain at the site, around 15 to 20 Nihang Sikhs broke through another police barricade and continued their march.

“We are trying to maintain law and order,” Superintendent of Police (Rural) Pankaj Gairola said.

SSP Dobhal said police had anticipated the march and had been on alert since Thursday morning.

“Several rounds of discussions were held with them. Some accepted our request and stayed back, while a small group attempted to breach another barricade. We are making every effort to resolve the situation peacefully with minimum use of force. Any violation of law will be dealt with firmly,” he said.

The protest march stems from a June 16 clash in Karnaprayag, where an altercation between local residents and a group of Nihang Sikhs allegedly turned violent. According to police, swords were brandished during the incident, injuring several locals as well as one Nihang Sikh. Four Nihang Sikhs were subsequently arrested.

The protesters have demanded the release of the arrested men, saying they will not return to Punjab until all four are granted bail.

A representative of the group said the Nihangs intended to undertake their pilgrimage peacefully while reciting prayers and were seeking a negotiated resolution to the dispute. “We want to settle the issue through dialogue, not conflict. Senior police officers have assured us that the arrested Nihang members are likely to get bail in the coming days,” he said.

The group said it would remain in Uttarakhand until the four arrested Nihang Sikhs were released and could travel back to Punjab with the rest of the jatha.