A group of Nihang Sikhs climbed onto the roof of a gurdwara in Nagarasu, Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district, India, on the evening of June 20, blocking access to the roof and demanding the release of four Nihang Sikhs arrested in connection with a sword attack in Karnaprayag.
Police and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel remain deployed at the site and are trying to persuade the group to come down, sources said on Monday.
Nihang Sikhs are a warrior sect within Sikhism, known for carrying traditional weapons including swords and spears. They follow a strict code of conduct rooted in the teachings of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, and are recognised by their distinctive blue robes and tall turbans. The sect has historically served as a fighting force within the Sikh community and continues to maintain its martial traditions.
The standoff stems from an incident on June 16, when a dispute broke out between Nihang Sikhs and locals in the Karnaprayag market.
Several people were injured in a sword attack during the confrontation. One Nihang Sikh, Manpreet Singh, was also injured. Four Nihang Sikhs, including Singh, were subsequently arrested in connection with the case.
Around half a dozen Nihang Sikhs then took position on the roof of the Nagarasu Gurdwara, situated between Rudraprayag and Gauchar on the Badrinath Highway. Eyewitnesses said that the group has been receiving food and supplies while on the roof, resorting to occasional stone-pelting to avoid being apprehended.
Gurdwara manager Sardar Beant Singh said on Sunday that the group held a person hostage for a period before releasing him.
Authorities have since opened dialogue with the group. Superintendent of Police Niharika Tomar said on Monday that two Nihang Sikhs had come down from the roof and were in discussions with police and the administration.
To ensure impartiality, investigations in both related cases have been transferred from Chamoli district to Haridwar district. Allegations by Sikh organisations regarding police misconduct during the Karnaprayag incident have been assigned to Deputy Inspector General of Police Yashwant Singh, who has been asked to submit a report within two weeks.
Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said that the Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage was continuing normally throughout.
