More than 150 Nihangs who are camping at Paonta Sahib gurdwara will not leave until the arrested members are released

A group of Nihang Sikhs arrive at Gurdwara Paonta Sahib from Uttarakhand after meeting the administrations over their recent clash in Chamoli district of Karnaprayag, at Paonta Sahib, Sirmaur on June 26, 2026. | Photo credit: ANI

More than 150 Nihangs are camping at the Paonta Sahib gurdwara in Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh, awaiting the release of four members of their sect who were arrested in Uttarakhand following a clash with local residents.

The Nihang groups held discussions on the future course of action and said they will not return to Punjab until the four arrested members are released, sources said on Saturday (June 27, 2026).

The Nihang jatha on Thursday (June 25, 2026) tried to force its way into Uttarakhand through Dehradun, which is just a few kilometers away. They also encountered the police who were present in large numbers to prevent their entry.

Also read | Explanation: Who are the Nihangs?

The standoff between the Nihangs and the Dehradun government on the Himachal-Uttarakhand border ended on Friday (June 26, 2026) after the Nihangs postponed their march to Uttarakhand by two days.

Jagdeep Singh Akali, who leads the Nihang jatha, told the media on Friday (June 26, 2026) that the Uttarakhand administration sought two days to “fulfill its demands”, so the plan for a protest march in Uttarakhand was put on hold for the next two days.

However, he warned that he would resume the agitation if the arrested Nihangs were not released.

On 16 June, a dispute between residents and a group of Nihangs turned violent at the Karnaprayag market in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, injuring several locals and one Nihang, following which the police registered a case and arrested four Nihangs.

The Nihang jatha clashed with the police on Thursday (June 25, 2026) evening and pushed through security barricades to march towards Hemkund Sahib, a Sikh pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand.

After meeting the police, the group, which had gathered in Dehradun, left under police escort and took shelter in the Paonta Sahib gurdwara, a few kilometers from the interstate border.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pramendra Dobal of Dehradun said several people crossed the border check post and one or two vehicles crossed but after discussion they agreed to return.

In another related incident, about half a dozen Nihangs climbed onto the roof of Nagarasu Gurdwara on Badrinath Highway on June 20 and took an elderly man hostage and demanded the release of those arrested in the Karnaprayag encounter.

The shrine was abandoned on June 23 following discussions between the local administration, gurdwara management and sect members who visited Punjab.

Published – 27 Jun 2026 12:35 PM IST