Seven Nihang Sikhs have been occupying the Nagarasu Gurdwara along the Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage route in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district for more than 30 hours, with an elderly sevadar still reportedly being held hostage. The situation developed after tensions connected to an earlier clash between Sikh pilgrims and local residents in Karnaprayag.
Officials said the group entered the dispute after a disagreement with the gurdwara management and allegedly moved onto the roof of the shrine while attempting to take control of the premises. During the confrontation, sevadars were reportedly assaulted. Two sevadars were taken hostage initially, and while one was later released after a video emerged from the site, an elderly sevadar continues to remain in their custody.
Police teams, district administration officials and ITBP personnel were deployed soon after the incident came to light. Authorities have been attempting to resolve the matter through negotiations, but no final outcome has been reached so far. Internet services were suspended in parts of Rudraprayag and Srinagar as a precaution to prevent the spread of rumours and misinformation.
The situation is linked to an earlier clash in Karnaprayag between returning Nihang Sikh pilgrims and local youths, which reportedly escalated into violence involving swords and left several people injured. Following the incident, police arrested some Sikh youths, which led to anger within sections of the Sikh community.
A delegation from Punjab led by MP Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa later visited Uttarakhand and initially planned to go to Karnaprayag but stopped in Haridwar. The delegation met senior police officials, including Haridwar SSP Navneet Singh Bhullar, and requested a meeting with higher authorities. The request was forwarded to the Director General of Police, and a meeting was subsequently arranged in Dehradun.
Khalsa has called for a cross-case in relation to the Karnaprayag violence, stating that the Sikh youths acted in self-defence and should not be singled out. He also raised objections over the handling of those arrested and maintained that carrying kirpans is a constitutional right. Another delegation member, MLA Manpreet Singh, also alleged biased action and demanded a fair investigation, saying the Sikh community is concerned about the developments.
Officials said discussions are ongoing and that the concerns raised by the delegation have been communicated to senior authorities as efforts continue to address both the gurdwara standoff and the earlier clash.
