Punjab CM Mann speaks to CM Dhami
By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Rudraprayag, 22 Jun: The controversy surrounding Gurdwara Damdama Sahib at Nagarasu in district Rudraprayag on the Hemkund Sahib Yatra route continues even today as the report is being filed. As per the latest updates, four Nihang Sikhs still continue to occupy the second and third floors of the Gurdwara despite repeated efforts by the administration to resolve the impasse through dialogue. The prolonged standoff has kept the area tense, prompting authorities to maintain a heavy deployment of security personnel, including police, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and other security agencies. It may be reminded here that the Nihangs occupying the portion of the Gurdwara at Nagrasu have been demanding immediate release of the Nihangs from police custody who had been arrested for assaulting the local people in Karnaprayag.
At the same time, the government and the local administration has claimed that despite the standoff, the langar and the prayers at the Gurdwara continue to be held as usual. Interestingly, the issue has also drawn the attention of the Punjab Government and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is reported to have spoken to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami seeking the details of the developments. During the conversation, Mann reportedly urged that both sides be heard impartially before any decision is taken and emphasised that the resolution should be such that religious sentiments are not hurt. Mann is also learnt to have appealed to members of the Sikh community residing in Uttarakhand to maintain peace and restraint, stating that the sensitive issue should be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding. Mann further assured that the Punjab Government is ready to extend any assistance if required.
It may be recalled that the dispute, which has been under discussion since 20 June, is linked to tensions between the management of Gurdwara Damdama Sahib and a group of Nihang devotees and is also linked with an earlier incident that had taken place in Karnaprayag in Chamoli district on 16 June. According to the officials, four Nihangs travelling towards Hemkund Sahib had reportedly attacked local residents with swords following a dispute over vehicle parking near a hotel on the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway. Four local residents had sustained injuries in the incident, while one Nihang was also injured. Three Nihangs reportedly fled towards Gauchar on motorcycles after the clash, triggering public outrage and a blockade of the highway for nearly three hours. The police subsequently registered a case and arrested four Nihangs, one of whom continues to receive treatment under police supervision.
The arrest of the Nihangs sparked resentment among some members of the community. Seeking the release of their associates, a group of Nihangs reached Gurdwara Damdama Sahib at Nagarasu on Saturday and allegedly occupied parts of the shrine. They reportedly warned that Nihangs from across the country would be called to the site if their demands were not met. The group was also reportedly dissatisfied over what it perceived as the failure of the local gurdwara management to lodge objections regarding the Karnaprayag incident.
According to police, the situation had escalated on Saturday afternoon when some Nihangs reached the gurdwara and became involved in a dispute with the local sewadars of the Gurdwara at Nagrasu. Two sewadars were allegedly assaulted by these Nihangs and one of them was also held captive for some time. The Nihangs subsequently climbed onto the upper floors and roof of the building, where they were seen brandishing swords and asserting control over the premises.
What has followed was a prolonged standoff that continued for more than 30 hours already as the report was being filed. During this period, the district administration has reportedly held three rounds of negotiations with the Nihangs occupying the Gurdwara, but no breakthrough has been achieved so far. The Nihangs continue to remain firm on their demand for the release of those arrested in the Karnaprayag assault case. The administration, meanwhile, continues efforts to persuade them to vacate the premises peacefully.
It may also be reminded that the situation had eased marginally last evening when the hostage sewadar, Navtej Singh, was released after fresh talks between the administration and the Nihangs. One Nihang also agreed to come down from the upper floors. Subsequently, two more Nihangs, identified as Parmveer Singh and Jagandeep, descended from the building today. As a result, the number of Nihangs occupying the gurdwara has reduced significantly from the initial group and, at present, four Nihangs continue to remain inside the premises.
Despite the ongoing dispute, the movement of devotees and the offering of Ardas resumed at the gurdwara last evening. The administration has sought to downplay the case describing the matter as a dispute between two parties that later escalated into a law-and-order challenge. Security arrangements however remain extensive in and around the shrine. Additional forces have been stationed to prevent any untoward incident and ensure the safety of pilgrims travelling on the Hemkund Sahib route. Internet services in Rudraprayag and Karnaprayag had also been suspended from morning until 5 p.m. on Sunday as a precautionary measure.
Superintendent of Police Niharika Tomar shared that around 3.40 p.m. on Saturday, information was received through the emergency service 112 regarding a dispute between two groups at the Nagarasu gurdwara. A police team from Gholtir outpost immediately reached the spot and assessed the situation. The preliminary inquiries had revealed that the disagreement had arisen between the gurdwara sewadars and the visiting Nihangs. Police and administrative officials then initiated discussions with both sides to maintain law and order and restore normalcy.
District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said all roads in the district remained open and traffic movement was normal. He appealed to residents to maintain peace and communal harmony and refrain from sharing unverified information or rumours. He added that the administration was closely monitoring developments and remained committed to finding a peaceful resolution through dialogue.
Although the release of the hostage sewadar and the gradual reduction in the number of Nihangs occupying the building have eased tensions to some extent, the standoff has not been fully resolved at the time of filing this report. The administration however continues to engage with the remaining Nihangs in an effort to bring the episode to a peaceful conclusion without further escalation.
