Nihang Jatha Stopped by Uttarakhand Police at Himachal Border Amid Karnaprayag Dispute

A jatha of Nihang organisations was stopped by Uttarakhand Police at the Himachal-Uttarakhand border on Thursday while it was en route to Dehradun from Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan in Mohali, amid the ongoing dispute related to Karnaprayag.

MOHALI/DEHRADUN: A clash broke out between a jatha of Nihangs and Uttarakhand Police after it was stopped at the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border on Thursday while attempting to travel to Dehradun amid tensions linked to the June 16 Karnaprayag clash. Visuals showed Nihangs clashing with the cops deployed on the barricaded road after the group had set out from Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan in Mohali despite recent talks between Nihang representatives and senior Uttarakhand officials, after which some leaders had expressed satisfaction with the discussions. However, a section of Nihang Sikhs remained determined to continue their march to Uttarakhand. Speaking to news agency ANI, Nihang representative Akali Jasdeep Singh outlined three key demands, including action against police officials allegedly involved in the case and suspension of officers accused of unlawfully detaining members of the community. Singh alleged that the police had acted unfairly in registering a case against Nihang Sikhs and demanded the removal of the investigating officer. He also sought disciplinary action against officers who allegedly detained Nihang members and produced them before a court without a valid case. "We will return only when our four detained Nihang brothers are released and allowed to accompany us," Singh said, adding that the group should be permitted to proceed to Rudraprayag without obstruction. The dispute traces back to June 16, when a confrontation broke out in Karnaprayag between Nihang Sikh pilgrims returning from Sri Hemkund Sahib and local residents, triggering tensions in the region. Efforts to ease the situation are continuing at a gurdwara in Nagarasu, where discussions are being held between Sikh devotees and Nihang representatives. Earlier this week, a delegation of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to discuss the incident. DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka said the chief minister assured the delegation that the matter was being monitored closely and that action would be taken based on the findings of a committee constituted by the state police to investigate the clash. Kalka also said the delegation was assured that allegations of police misconduct, including claims of manhandling Sikh youths, would be examined and appropriate action taken if wrongdoing was established.(With ANI inputs)