By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 27 Jun: The Dehradun police have registered cases against some unidentified Nihangs for breaking the barricades at the Kulhal border and for assault on public servants. It may be recalled that on Thursday night, a group of Nihang Sikhs travelling from Chandigarh to Hemkund Sahib had forcibly entered Uttarakhand by breaking the Kulhal gate barricade despite heavy police deployment at the border. Following the incident, police have now registered a case at Vikasnagar police station against unidentified Nihangs under serious charges. The allegations include breaking barricades, attempting to run vehicles over policemen, brandishing weapons to spread fear, obstructing government work and damaging public property. According to information, an appeal was circulated on social media on 25 June urging the Nihang Sikhs from Punjab to reach Karnprayag in large numbers.
In anticipation, the police had deployed forces from PAC and ITBP at the Kulhal gate barrier on the Himachal–Uttarakhand border to maintain law and order and regulate traffic. The administration had also appealed to the Nihang Sikhs to travel peacefully in small groups, but they remained adamant on their demands. When the talks between the Dehradun administration and the police with the Nihangs failed, the Nihangs advanced to the barricades waving swords, kirpans, axes, spears and other weapons, broke through the barrier and moved ahead. Several vehicles parked nearby were also damaged and policemen on duty were targeted with attempts to run them over, creating chaos at the spot.
SP Dehradun Rural Pankaj Gairola stated that a case has been registered against unidentified Nihang Sikhs under charges of attempted murder, obstruction of government work, assault on public servants, damage to public property, criminal force and spreading fear among people. The investigation has been assigned to Sub-Inspector Sanoj Kumar.
It may also be recalled that during the Hemkund Sahib Yatra, some Nihang Sikhs faced allegations of violating traffic rules and creating disorder at public places in Srinagar. On Friday, a large number of the local youths and student organisations linked to Garhwal University expressed strong resentment. A delegation led by former and current student leaders reached Srinagar Kotwali demanding impartial and strict action without discrimination. The student leaders and local youths accused the police administration of double standards, pointing out that even minor violations by local youths invite immediate challans and strict action, whereas outsiders openly flout rules without facing proportionate consequences. The protesters insisted that law and traffic rules must apply equally to all, whether local or from outside, and violations should attract uniform action.
It may also be reminded here that the way the police and the administration dealt with the situation through peaceful talks with the Nihangs, many local residents in Dehradun, Rudraprayag, Srinagar have been deeply anguished and they held protests demanding strict action against the Nihangs. However, the police chose to adopt a rather soft way to deal with the problem and those who had managed to enter Dehradun city and also reach the Racecourse Gurdwara here were persuaded peacefully and sent back to Paonta Sahib. Now the Nihangs have served an ultimatum to the state government demanding immediate release of the Nihangs detained over violence in Karnaprayag. Sources claim that the issue appears to be far from resolved.
