Heavy Police Deployment Amid Nihang Sikh Uttarakhand Border Protest

Nihang Sikhs Gather at Kulhal Border

Hundreds of Nihang Sikhs had assembled at the check post of the Uttarakhand-Himachal Pradesh border. The first group had come after visiting the Gurdwara Paonta Sahib located in Himachal Pradesh where officials have been holding dialogues with the protesters so far.

As the talks have not yielded desired results, the border area was put on alert and the entire area was manned with a large force and barricades.

Police, Nihang Sikhs Face Off at Border

Sources said that police have stopped some groups of Nihang Sikhs from entering into the state which led to the protests at the border. The state government accused that Nihang Sikhs had resorted to stone-pelting and broke police barricades in their bid to force into Uttarakhand from the Kulhal border. 

Both police and other security personnel were put on duty to pacify them. Heavy deployment of police have been made on Kulhal border and police are checking all vehicles going into Uttarakhand at the border after Nihang Sikhs had announced their marching towards the state in retaliation to the incident of Karnaprayag.

Karnaprayag Clash Triggered Fresh Tensions

Four local residents were injured in the clash with Nihang Sikhs at Karnaprayag on June 16, following which four Nihang Sikhs were arrested by the police.

Police said four Nihang Sikhs who had entered and stayed in the Nagarasu Gurdwara in Rudraprayag since Saturday have left the place on Tuesday after a group from Punjab held mediation talks with the local administration. 

DSGMC Seeks Fair Probe Into Police Conduct

A group of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) earlier had met Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on the issue. DSGMC chief Harmeet Singh Kalka said they were assured by the CM that the state government is monitoring the developments and action will be taken on getting a report by the committee formed by the state police to probe into Karnaprayag conflict.

Kalka said they were assured that they will investigate the allegations of misconduct by the police, including manhandling of Sikh youths, and take action if they are found guilty.