Nihangs Camp at Paonta Sahib, Demand Release of Arrested Members

More than 150 members of the Nihang Sikh sect are currently camped at the historic Paonta Sahib gurdwara in Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh. Their resolve is firm: they will not return to Punjab until four of their members, arrested in Uttarakhand following a violent clash, are released. Sources indicate that discussions were held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, to strategize their next steps.

This standoff originates from a dispute on June 16, 2026, in the Karnaprayag market in Chamoli, Uttarakhand. What started as a disagreement between residents and a group of Nihangs quickly escalated into violence, resulting in injuries to several locals and one Nihang. Following the incident, police registered a case and subsequently arrested four Nihangs.

Adding to the tensions, a Nihang jatha attempted to force entry into Uttarakhand through Dehradun on Thursday, June 25, 2026. They clashed with a significant police presence stationed to prevent their passage. The group eventually pushed through security barricades, intending to march towards Hemkund Sahib, a prominent Sikh pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand. However, after meeting with police, the group, which had gathered in Dehradun, was escorted and took shelter at Paonta Sahib gurdwara, located just a few kilometers from the interstate border.

The standoff between the Nihangs and the Dehradun administration at the Himachal-Uttarakhand border saw a temporary de-escalation on Friday, June 26, 2026. Jagdeep Singh Akali, who is leading the Nihang jatha, informed the media that the Uttarakhand administration requested two days to "fulfil their demands," prompting the suspension of their protest march for the next two days. However, Akali issued a clear warning: if the arrested Nihangs are not released within this period, their agitation will resume.

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