Rudraprayag: Angry at Gurudwara for not supporting Nihangs arrested in Karnaprayag clash, group of Nihangs brandishing swords lock themselves with a hostage inside the shrine

Chaos erupted on Saturday (20th June) at Gurudwara Damdama Sahib in Nagrasu Gholteer, in the Rudraprayag district, after some Nihang Sikhs entered the gurudwara, brandished swords and took two sevadars hostage. They released one of the hostages after the situation grew tense, but kept the other one in captivity. The Nihangs are angry with the Gurudwara committee for not supporting four Nihangs arrested in Karnaprayag after they attacked locals with swords after a dispute.

Rudraprayag District Magistrate (DM) Vishal Mishra arrived this morning to speak with the Nihangs, but they refused to engage in dialogue. The Nihangs have locked themselves inside the Gurudwara, refusing to come out. The Gurudwara Management Committee also attempted to negotiate with them, but they didn’t relent.

Internet services in the area have been suspended, and the PAC and the ITBP personnel have been deployed in the area as the Nihangs continue to keep the sevadar hostage. Considering the situation, the local administration has imposed Section 163 of BNSS in sensitive areas of the Chamoli and the Rudraprayag districts, which will remain in effect until 27th June.

The actions of the Nihangs are connected to an incident that happened in Karnaprayag on 16th June. During the incident, a clash took place in the Karnaprayag market of Chamoli between some Nihang Sikhs and locals. A group of Nihang Sikhs was returning from the Hemkund Sahib Yatra on 5-6 bikes when their bikes collided with a car parked in the market. An altercation ensued between the Nihangs and the locals, which soon turned violent.

Some of the Nihangs reportedly attacked locals with swords and sharp weapons, leaving 3-4 people injured. The condition of one of the injured persons, who is a local hotelier, was critical, and he was airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh. Outraged local traders and residents blocked the Badrinath National Highway (NH) for approximately five hours in protest against the incident. The blockade caused a traffic tailback stretching 25 kilometres from Gauchar to Nandprayag, disrupting the Char Dham Yatra.

Later, Chamoli District Magistrate (DM) Gaurav Kumar and Superintendent of Police (SP) Surjit Singh Pawar persuaded the protesters to clear the blockade. The police lodged an FIR and arrested four Nihangs in connection with the incident, three of whom were sent to Pursadi Jail after being produced before the court. One of the arrestees was injured and is undergoing treatment in police custody.

On Saturday, a group of 8-10 Nihangs arrived at the Nagrasu Gurudwara and asked the management committee to support them in the case. They also asked the management to accompany them to the police station to file a counter-complaint against the locals. However, the committee refused to get involved in the matter.

The Nihangs got angry with the refusal and started to argue with the committee, which resulted in a clash. They brandished swords, assaulted sevadars, and occupied the premises.

Apart from the refusal to support in the Karnaprayag incident, the Nihangs also had a dispute with the management committee at Nagrasu over langar arrangements at the Gurudwara. As per local Sikhs, the Nihangs are under the influence of bhaang.

The Nihangs camping in the Nagrasu Gurudwara have accused the local police of acting in a prejudiced manner in the Karnaprayag incident. They alleged that the police acted selectively in the case and did not take action against the local people involved in the incident. They have raised three demands in connection with the incident, which are: the release of the Nihangs arrested by the police, action against the locals involved in the incident and the cancellation of the FIR lodged in the case.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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