Uttarakhand Gurdwara Standoff Continues as Talks With Nihang Sikhs Show Progress

A standoff involving a group of Nihang Sikhs at the Nagarasu Gurdwara in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district continued on Monday, with authorities pursuing negotiations to resolve the situation peacefully.

The standoff began on June 20 , when around six to seven Nihang Sikhs climbed onto the roof of the gurdwara, located on the Badrinath Highway between Rudraprayag and Gauchar. The group is demanding the release of fellow Nihang Sikhs arrested following a clash in Karnaprayag on June 16 .

According to police, the arrests were made after a dispute in the Karnaprayag market allegedly led to a sword attack in which several locals were injured. A Nihang Sikh, Manpreet Singh , was also hurt during the incident. Four Nihang Sikhs, including Singh, were subsequently arrested.

Superintendent of Police Niharika Tomar said talks with the group have shown positive results, with one or two Nihang Sikhs coming down from the roof to hold discussions with police and administrative officials. Dialogue with the remaining members is continuing.

Tomar dismissed social media reports claiming a hostage situation or military deployment, calling them misleading and baseless. However, gurdwara manager Sardar Beant Singh alleged that a person was briefly held hostage before being released.

An adequate police force has been deployed at the site, while personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have also assisted local authorities. Eyewitnesses claimed the Nihangs have been receiving food and supplies on the roof and have occasionally resorted to stone-pelting to avoid apprehension.

District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said the Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage remains unaffected, with prayers, langar services and pilgrim movement continuing normally.

Meanwhile, investigations into the Karnaprayag clash and related allegations have been transferred to Haridwar district to ensure impartiality. A separate probe into allegations regarding police conduct has been assigned to Deputy Inspector General of Police Yashwant Singh , who is expected to submit a report within two weeks.