Nihang Sikh groups stopped at Himachal-Uttarakhand border amid protest over arrests

A large group of Nihang Sikhs marching from Punjab and Chandigarh toward Uttarakhand were stopped by police at the Kulhal border near Paonta Sahib on Thursday, June 25. The mobilization follows two weeks of tensions linked to arrests during the Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage and disputes at gurdwaras in Uttarakhand. 38ae

What triggered the march

The current protest traces back to June 16, when a clash broke out in Karnaprayag, Chamoli district, between Nihang pilgrims and local residents over vehicle parking near Panch Puliya. Five people were injured, including four locals and one pilgrim from Mohali. Uttarakhand police arrested four Nihang Sikhs and sent them to judicial custody.

The arrests sparked criticism from several Sikh organizations. Leaders said the men were produced in court without their turbans, which they described as a violation of religious tradition, and questioned why no cross FIR was initially registered against locals. On June 20, seven Nihangs arrived at Gurdwara Langar Damdama Sahib in Nagrasu, Rudraprayag, seeking rooms for a demonstration. The gurdwara management declined due to pilgrim rush, leading to a standoff where some Nihangs occupied upper floors and police were pelted with stones.

Border standoff this week

Ahead of a planned June 25 gathering, Uttarakhand Police and ITBP personnel were deployed at Kulhal on the Himachal-Uttarakhand border from June 24. On Thursday, police stopped Nihangs attempting to enter Uttarakhand from Paonta Sahib and sent them back to the local gurdwara, where officers held talks with them. 38ae

Videos from the border show hundreds of Nihangs in traditional blue attire gathered at barricades at night, with police in helmets attempting to hold the line. Another clip from Paonta Sahib showed a convoy of Nihangs traveling by jeep toward Uttarakhand, with on-screen text stating the group was “planning a protest to take control of a gurdwara”.

Demands presented by protesters

According to posts summarizing the protest, Nihang representatives presented three main demands to authorities:
Release of the four arrested pilgrims from the June 16 Karnaprayag incident
Disciplinary action against police officials involved in the arrests
Removal of the investigating officer handling the Karnaprayag case

At Kulhal, a speaker warned that if demands were ignored, protesters would “block every road connecting Himachal, Jammu, and Uttarakhand to Punjab”. Another post noted protesters linking their actions to the 2027 Punjab elections.

Official and community responses

Vikasnagar SP Vivek Singh Kutiyal said talks were underway between police and administration officials at the border. The Gurdwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust appealed Wednesday for devotees to maintain peace and avoid carrying weapons unnecessarily, stating “in Sikhism, the importance of weapons is for the protection of religion, not for their misuse”.

Akal Takht’s officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj alleged “one-sided action” by Uttarakhand Police and directed every Sikh going on pilgrimage to go “tyar bar tyar and shastardhari” — fully prepared — while urging youth not to take the law into their own hands. He also asked SGPC to provide legal help to the arrested youths.

Current situation

After several hours of talks Thursday, most protesters agreed to disperse, according to a summary posted June 26. Security remains heightened along the Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib routes due to ongoing pilgrimages.

The Uttarakhand government has ordered an inquiry into the Karnaprayag clash. Local residents had earlier demanded a ban on sharp-edged weapons during pilgrimages.

Background context
This is not the first border tension this month. Earlier in June, Nihang groups imposed a symbolic “Khalsa tax” on Himachal vehicles to counter the state’s entry levy on outside vehicles, warning of a permanent toll from June 21. post-028940589634803850989

Officials stress that the Nagrasu gurdwara standoff and Karnaprayag arrests are separate issues, though protesters have linked them in their demands.

This is a developing story. Authorities in both states have urged calm as pilgrimage season continues.