A group of Nihangs, armed with spears and swords, stormed a gurdwara in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, on Saturday evening, taking the manager hostage on the roof of the shrine. The police confirmed the incident on Sunday, stating that the Nihangs are demanding the release of four fellow Nihangs who were arrested following a clash in Chamoli on June 16.
Standoff at Nagrasu Gurdwara
The standoff began around Saturday evening at the Nagrasu gurdwara. Heavy police force was deployed at the scene. The Rudraprayag district magistrate and superintendent of police arrived at the site and urged the Nihangs to vacate the premises. However, the Nihangs, who have locked the third floor leading to the terrace, did not relent.
According to police, the Nihangs engaged in vandalism, took the manager with them to the roof, and started raising slogans. They are armed with spears, swords, axes, and kirpans.
Demand for Release of Arrested Nihangs
The four Nihang devotees were arrested in connection with a June 16 clash that stemmed from an altercation over parking near a hotel in a market at Karnaprayag in Chamoli. A group of Nihangs were returning after offering prayers at the Hemkund Sahib Gurdwara when they got into a war of words with locals at a market. Subsequently, the pilgrims allegedly attacked people with swords, injuring four individuals.
Later, the four Nihangs, hailing from the Mohali district in Punjab, were arrested in connection with the incident.
Background of the Incident
Some Nihangs had appealed to the managers of the Nagrasu gurdwara for support regarding a proposed sit-in on Sunday, intended to oppose the alleged “one-sided action” over the Karnaprayag incident. When they did not receive the expected cooperation, the Nihangs allegedly created a ruckus at the gurdwara on Saturday evening, leading to the hostage situation.
Efforts to persuade the Nihangs to release the manager and come down peacefully continue, with authorities maintaining a heavy presence at the location.
