By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 26 Jun: Dehradun Police and the administration have claimed that the standoff between Nihang Sikhs and the district administration ended today on a positive note after both sides reached a consensus. The officials informed media that, following the consensus between the Nihangs and the administration, the Dehradun-Himachal Border at Kulhal has been reopened and the vehicular movement has resumed.
Sources claimed that, under the agreement, the Nihang Sikhs will remain at Paonta Sahib Gurdwara for the next two days, after which they will decide their future course of action. A Sikh delegation will meanwhile meet the Nihangs arrested in connection with the Karnaprayag incident and will also appeal for the smooth continuation of the Hemkund Sahib Yatra.
The breakthrough came after prolonged discussions between senior police and administrative officials and representatives of the Nihangs.
Dehradun District Magistrate Dr Ashish Chauhan described the talks as successful and said both sides had agreed on a peaceful way forward.
It may be reminded that the situation had turned tense after a large group of Nihang Sikhs travelling from Punjab towards Uttarakhand had yesterday attempted to enter the state through the Kulhal border on Thursday. In anticipation, the Police and the administration had erected barricades at the Kulhal check post near Paonta Sahib to prevent their entry. During the confrontation, some Nihang Sikhs removed the barricades and a group of around 20 to 30 crossed into Uttarakhand. Some vehicles were allegedly damaged during the incident, while several Nihang Sikhs, brandishing swords, had managed to enter Dehradun despite the presence of police and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel.
Following intelligence inputs that the group was heading towards Premnagar, the Dehradun Police placed the entire area under heavy security. District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan, Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Singh Dobal and other senior police officers rushed to the spot along with a large contingent of police personnel. However, the Nihang Sikhs avoided the expected route and entered Dehradun through an alternative route via Mehuwala and ISBT before reaching the Gurdwara at Race Course.
After receiving information about their location, the District Magistrate, the Senior Superintendent of Police and other senior officers reached the Gurdwara at Race Course where several rounds of discussions were held with the Nihangs. Following detailed deliberations, the group agreed to return peacefully to Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh.
Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Singh Dobal said that some Nihang devotees had reached Dehradun late last night through Paonta Sahib and other routes and had assembled at the Race Course Gurdwara. After extensive discussions with police and administrative officials, all of them were persuaded to return peacefully to Paonta Sahib.
Earlier, the police and ITBP had remained on high alert throughout the night to prevent any fresh attempt to enter Uttarakhand. The Kulhal border was sealed and long queues of vehicles formed on the Paonta bridge as traffic remained suspended for several hours. A large number of security personnel were deployed not only at the Kulhal check post but also along the National Highway and other strategic locations.
According to the officials, around 150 to 200 Nihangs are presently staying at Paonta Sahib Gurdwara. Senior officers from both Dehradun and Haridwar districts, including the Haridwar Rural Superintendent of Police and the SDM Vikasnagar, also participated in the negotiations to ensure that the situation remained under control.
Adequate police and security forces have been deployed at the Paonta Sahib border. Vehicles traveling to and from Dehradun are undergoing rigorous monitoring and checks. The administration is engaged in ongoing dialogue with representatives of the Nihang Sikh community at Gurudwara Paonta Sahib in a positive and cordial atmosphere.
DM Ashish Chauhan stated that maintaining peace and law and order in the district is the top priority, and there will be no compromise on this matter. He noted that security arrangements have been strengthened at all sensitive locations, and the administration and police are keeping a constant watch on every activity. He expressed confidence that efforts to maintain normalcy through mutual dialogue are continuing.
SSP Pramendra Dobal stated that effective police deployments and checkpoints have been established across all potential entry routes, including the border area. He emphasised that there would be no laxity in security arrangements and that strict action, in accordance with the law, would be taken against any elements attempting to disrupt peace and order.
The administration has appealed to citizens not to pay heed to rumours, to rely only on official information, and to cooperate in maintaining peace and harmony.
It may be recalled that the present dispute has its roots in an incident at Karnaprayag in Chamoli district on 16 June, when Nihang Sikhs returning from Hemkund Sahib had reportedly clashed with the local residents and even assaulted them with swords. The altercation escalated into violence, during which swords were reportedly used, leaving several people injured, including one person who had to be airlifted for treatment. The Police had subsequently arrested several Nihang Sikhs in connection with the incident and registered separate FIRs against both sides.
Following the Karnaprayag clash, some Nihang Sikhs had reached the Nagrasu Gurdwara in district Rudraprayag and occupied a large portion of the Gurdwara, resulting in their dispute with the members of the local Gurdwara management committee. The Nihang Sikhs allegedly occupied the upper floor of the Gurdwara for four days before eventually leaving for Punjab. After returning to Punjab, they announced a march towards Uttarakhand, demanding the release of their arrested associates and withdrawal of the FIRs registered in connection with the Karnaprayag incident.
The officials have stated that the Karnaprayag clash and the subsequent Nagrasu Gurdwara dispute were separate incidents. While the Karnaprayag case involved a clash between Nihang Sikhs and local residents, the Nagrasu episode related to differences with the Gurdwara management committee. However, according to the locals in Rudraprayag and in Karnaprayag, both the incidents are linked as those who had occupied the Nagrasu Gurdwara were demanding release of the Nihangs arrested in connection with violence in Karnaprayag.
The movement of the Nihang Sikhs towards Uttarakhand had triggered a high alert across Dehradun district, prompting the administration to mobilise police forces from various parts of the district. Intelligence agencies had closely monitored the group’s movements amid concerns that they were determined to proceed towards Hemkund Sahib. But questions have been raised over the alleged failure of the intelligence agencies and the police in preventing the entry of the Nihangs in Dehradun late last evening and the last night. Though, today following the successful negotiations, the immediate tension has eased and normal traffic has now reportedly resumed after the reopening of the Kulhal border, but the security forces continue to maintain strict vigil in the border areas.
