Group Of Nihangs Occupy Part Of Uttarakhand Gurdwara, Seek Release Of Four Arrested Sect Members

Last Updated:June 22, 2026, 08:00 IST

Nagrasu Gurdwara remains under tight security as authorities negotiate with Nihangs protesting the arrest of four sect members linked to the Karnaprayag clash.

Rudraprayag: ‘Nihangs’ stand on the roof of a gurdwara to demand the release of four members of the Sikh sect (Photos: PTI)

A standoff continued at Nagrasu Gurdwara in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district on Sunday after a group of Nihangs occupied part of the religious complex and demanded the release of four members of their sect who were arrested in connection with a clash in Chamoli district earlier this month.

The incident prompted the deployment of a heavy police force at the site, where authorities have been engaged in talks with the group since Saturday evening.

However, district officials have maintained that the situation remains under control and that religious activities at the gurdwara are continuing without disruption.

District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said an internal dispute had occurred inside the gurdwara and that law and order was being maintained.

“A dispute erupted at a Gurdwara in Nagarasu between Nihang Sikhs, the Gurdwara management, and the Sikh sevadars (servants) who live there. The Ardaas, Langar, and prayers at the Gurdwara are all running smoothly and peacefully. The movement of people through the Gurdwara is also flowing smoothly. No one is facing any problems,” Mishra told news agency ANI.

He urged people not to pay attention to rumours, adding, “Don’t pay attention to any rumours that the gurdwara has been taken over, that someone has been taken hostage, or that any violence has occurred.”

“No such incident has occurred. The Gurdwara’s management committee is operating in a completely peaceful environment. There are no problems of any kind,” he added.

POLICE HOLD TALKS WITH NIHANGS

Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police Niharika Tomar said police, district authorities and the gurdwara management committee were engaged in continuous discussions with the Nihangs.

“The police, district administration, and the Gurudwara management committee are in constant dialogue with the Nihang Sikhs, attempting to understand their concerns and find a solution,” Tomar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

“The talks have yielded positive results; one of the Nihangs has come down from the roof to speak with the administration and police, and dialogue with the remaining individuals is ongoing,” she added.

According to a statement issued by the district administration and cited by PTI, the Nihangs had locked the upper floor leading to the terrace, where an elderly Sikh man was allegedly being held.

Earlier, SP Tomar told IANS that police received information about the dispute on June 20.

“Yesterday (June 20), at 3.40 pm on June 20, we received a notice from the police control room in Rudraprayag that there has been a dispute between the two sides in Nagrasu Gurudwara.”

“When the police reached there and inquired, it was found out that it was the service of the Gurudwara and that the Nihang Sikh pilgrims had come there. There was a dispute about something, and then there was an argument,” she said.

The ongoing standoff is linked to a clash that took place on June 16 in Karnaprayag market in Chamoli district.

According to PTI, a group of Nihang pilgrims returning from Sri Hemkund Sahib Gurdwara became involved in a verbal altercation with locals over parking near a hotel.

The confrontation allegedly escalated, with four residents sustaining injuries in an attack involving swords.

A Nihang was also injured during the clash.

Subsequently, four Nihangs from Mohali in Punjab were arrested.

The arrested men’s supporters later approached the management of Nagrasu Gurdwara seeking support for a protest against what they described as “one-sided action” by authorities in the Karnaprayag case.

According to PTI, the gurdwara management said the Nihangs demanded that 50 to 60 rooms be arranged for supporters expected to arrive for the proposed protest.

When the request could not be fulfilled, tensions escalated.

Baba Beant Singh of Gurdwara Nagrasu told ANI that the group arrived from Mohali and initially stayed at the gurdwara before the situation deteriorated.

“They came here the day before yesterday and started fighting. They started beating and abusing the volunteers. Even then, we let them stay overnight. Provided them with food,” he said.

“They started fighting with us again the next morning. Still, we tried to reason with them and make them leave. When we were leaving, they saw the police outside. They thought they were there to arrest them because they had been up to nefarious activities. So they went straight up to the fifth floor,” Beant Singh alleged.

“They took over the place, broke the walls, and started throwing stones at us, the police, the people outside, and the shopkeepers. We have covered this incident with our drones,” he added.

Beant Singh further alleged that the group refused food, fearing it could be poisoned, cut off the water supply, damaged solar panels and caused losses worth lakhs of rupees.

“They’ve cut off our water supply. They’ve destroyed the entire building’s solar panels. They’ve been vandalising all night. They’ve caused us losses worth lakhs,” he said.

The district administration said a substantial security deployment was made as a precautionary measure, with 30 to 40 police personnel and more than two dozen ITBP jawans stationed outside the gurdwara.

Senior administrative and police officials have been continuously monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, PTI reported that the Uttarakhand government has ordered an inquiry into the June 16 Karnaprayag clash that led to the arrest of the four Nihangs whose release is being demanded by the protesters.

About the Author

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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