Nihang Sikhs Breach Uttarakhand Border Security, Advance Towards Hemkund Sahib Amid Arrest Demand Standoff

High tension prevailed at the Himachal Pradesh–Uttarakhand border on Thursday night after a large group of Nihang Sikhs clashed with police personnel, breached multiple layers of barricades at the Kulhal checkpoint in the Vikasnagar area, and advanced towards Hemkund Sahib, a significant Sikh pilgrimage destination.

The entire stretch had been converted into a high-alert security zone by authorities in anticipation of mobilisation linked to rising tensions over earlier disputes at Karnprayag and Nagrasu gurdwaras. Police personnel in riot gear were deployed behind reinforced barricades as part of a containment strategy to prevent any breach along the sensitive corridor.

Despite these arrangements, a section of the group succeeded in breaking through the security cordon after a confrontation with police personnel. Visuals from the site showed a dense security deployment attempting to hold positions as the group pushed ahead along the pilgrimage route.

Superintendent of Police (Rural) Pankaj Gairola confirmed that part of the gathering breached the barricades and proceeded forward. He stated that the administration was closely monitoring the situation and working to maintain law and order on the ground.

Following the escalation, senior district administration officials, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and the Tahsildar, reached the site to initiate talks with the group. However, the discussions failed to produce any breakthrough, leaving the standoff unresolved.

The group, reported to have set out from Mohali’s Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, has maintained that it will not return to Punjab until four Nihang Sikhs arrested in connection with the Karnprayag incident are released. The arrests stem from a violent clash on June 16 in Karnaprayag, where a dispute between local residents and members of the Nihang community escalated into violence, leaving several injured after swords were allegedly brandished during the confrontation. One Nihang Sikh was also injured in the incident.

Following the incident, police registered a case and arrested four individuals as part of the investigation.

Speaking at the border, a representative of the group said the procession intended to continue its pilgrimage peacefully while simultaneously seeking a resolution of the arrest issue. He added that there was an expectation that senior police officials had indicated the possibility of bail proceedings for the detained members in the coming days.

As of now, the situation remains tense along the Uttarakhand border, with security forces maintaining a strong presence while both sides continue to hold their positions amid uncertainty over the next phase of movement towards Hemkund Sahib.