Nihangs breach security barricade, enter Dehradun; demand release of 4 arrested members, retreat after talks

DEHRADOON: A tense standoff between Nihang Sikhs and Uttarakhand’s security agencies escalated in the intervening night of Thursday and Friday when a group of Nihangs allegedly breached police barricades at the Uttarakhand-Himachal Pradesh border and entered Dehradun brandishing swords and kirpans, prompting a major security alert in the state capital.The development followed the gathering of scores of Nihangs at Paonta Sahib in Himachal on Thursday, where they demanded the release of four members arrested in connection with a recent clash with locals in Chamoli district’s Karnaprayag area.Police said the group was initially stopped near the Kulhal interstate border, where senior officials held discussions with Nihang leaders. However, around 1520 Nihangs broke through security barriers and proceeded towards Dehradun via alternative routes before eventually assembling at a gurdwara in the Race Course area of the city.DM Ashish Chauhan, SSP Pramendra Dobhal and other senior officials held multiple rounds of talks with Nihang representatives through the night.“We held continuous talks with the jathedars who had arrived from Paonta Sahib. While many agreed to our terms and returned, about 15 to 20 individuals broke through the security barriers and attempted to enter the district. However, they were later persuaded and sent back,” Dobhal said.Following the discussions, the group agreed to return towards Paonta Sahib. However, the standoff was only temporarily defused. Till the time of filing the report, a large number of Nihangs were camped at Paonta Sahib. On Friday, both the DM and SSP visited Paonta Sahib to assess the situation and coordinate with Himachal authorities. Security was also intensified.The impasse stems from a series of recent incidents involving Nihang groups in Uttarakhand. These include the three-day standoff at a gurdwara in Rudraprayag, where Nihangs allegedly held ‘sevadars’ hostage before being allowed to leave without legal action, and the arrest of four Nihangs following a clash in Karnaprayag.Their arrest had prompted calls from Nihang groups to assemble in Uttarakhand on June 25. Nihang leader Akali Jasdeep Singh at Paonta Sahib said the administration had assured them a meeting with the arrested Nihangs and their families would be arranged within two days. Ruling out an immediate withdrawal, Singh added, “We’re not going back. If our brothers rejoin us, we will continue our journey through Uttarakhand with them and, after completing it, proceed to Punjab.”Stay updated with the latest Dehradun news. Download the TOI App.