CHAMOLI: A parking dispute between Sikh pilgrims and local residents near Panch Puliya in Uttarakhand's Karnprayag resulted in injuries to five people, including a pilgrim, on Tuesday, police said.
Incident Details
The altercation began when a group of pilgrims traveling to Hemkund Sahib parked their vehicle in front of a local hotel. Eyewitnesses reported that the argument escalated, with the pilgrims allegedly attacking residents with swords and kirpans.
The injured were taken to a government hospital in Karnprayag. One individual is in critical condition and has been referred to another hospital for further treatment. The injured include Prakash Rawat (26), Sudarshan Kandari (55), Gajpal Singh (50), Harendra Singh (42) — all residents of Karnprayag — and Manpreet Singh (21) from Mohali, Punjab.
Highway Blockade
Angry locals gathered near the Karnprayag police post and blocked the Badrinath National Highway (NH-07) for four hours, causing a massive traffic jam. Hundreds of vehicles carrying pilgrims to Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib, along with local commuters, were stranded. Police temporarily halted traffic at a holding area in Gauchar to manage the situation.
Official Intervention
The protest was called off after Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar and Superintendent of Police Surjit Singh Panwar arrived and held talks with the protesters, assuring strict action against those responsible. Locals demanded a ban on sharp-edged weapons during religious pilgrimages.
Kumar stated that the safety of both pilgrims and locals is the administration's top priority. He emphasized that no lawlessness would be tolerated and strict action would be taken against the guilty.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions over parking and religious practices in the region.
