Nihangs Leave Uttarakhand Gurdwara After Four-Day Standoff; Punjab Jatha Returns

June 23, 2026

The Nihangs, who were occupying the fourth floor of Gurdwara Sahib in Nagarasu, Uttarakhand, have finally come down. They have been sent back to Punjab. The Nihang group from Punjab held talks with the administration and after that they came to talk to the Nihangs.

The group interacted with the Nihangs present there and assured them that no action would be taken against them. So, they should get down. At the behest of the group, the Nihangs came down.

Earlier, Beant Singh, the chief servitor of Gurdwara Sahib, had appealed to the Nihangs that the police have left from here, you get down. After eating the langar, you leave for Punjab. He did not come down at the behest of Beant Singh. Earlier, the Nihangs had also beaten up the servitor.

He said that Baba Beant Singh has also appealed to him and after that he has come down. Talks have also been held with the administration in this regard. On Tuesday, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) met CM Pushkar Singh Dhami regarding this.

The CM said that impartial action is being taken in relation to the incidents reported in Karnaprayag and Nagarasu. Action is being taken against those found guilty in the investigation as per rules. Further stringent steps will be taken based on the facts.

What has happened since June 16?

Dispute in Karnaprayag market 16 June A group of Nihangs returning from Hemkund Sahib Yatra collided with a parked car in Karnaprayag market. After this, there was an argument between the two sides, which turned into a violent clash.

It is alleged that some Nihangs attacked with swords and sharp weapons, injuring several locals. When the condition of a hotelier was serious, he was airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh.

Locals and traders blocked the Badrinath highway for nearly five hours in protest against the incident. This led to a long traffic jam from Gauchar to Nandprayag. The police took action and arrested four accused.

June 20 FIR on the other side The Sikh community alleged that the Nihangs had acted in self-defense, but only a case was registered against them. On June 20, an FIR was registered at Karnaprayag police station against unidentified persons on the complaint of the father of the injured Sikh devotee. After this, the Nihangs stayed at the Gurudwara at Nagarasu in Rudraprayag district. Their resentment was over the role of the local gurdwara management and administration.

The dispute escalated on Saturday evening. It is alleged that the Nihangs assaulted the servitor of the gurdwara and a baba and took a person present their hostage. They then went to the upper floors of the gurdwara with weapons and locked themselves inside.

June 21: Police cordon, ITBP deployed as soon as the incident was reported, police, PAC and ITBP were deployed on the spot. The administration surrounded the gurdwara from all sides. DM Vishal Mishra and SP Niharika Tomar tried to negotiate, but in the initial phase, the Nihangs refused to talk. Internet services were also suspended in the surrounding areas for some time in view of security precautions.

After the June 22 talks, several rounds of talks were held between the hostage free administration and the Nihangs. After this, the Nihangs freed the hostages. Issuing a video message, he said that the police administration has cooperated with them and they are safe. However, some Nihangs are still staying in the gurdwara and are waiting for their comrades to arrive.

June 23 Investigation Haridwar Transfer On the basis of the report of IG Garhwal Rajiv Swaroop, the police headquarters took a big decision. The investigation of both the FIRs registered in Karnaprayag was transferred from Chamoli to Haridwar. These cases will be supervised by SSP Haridwar Navneet Singh Bhullar. Sikh organizations have alleged that the arrested devotees were presented in the court without a dastar and they were mistreated. The investigation of these allegations has been handed over to DIG Yashwant Singh Chauhan. He has been instructed to submit a report within two weeks.