Four Nihang pilgrims arrested after a June 16 clash in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district were welcomed with religious slogans at Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan in Sohana, Mohali, on Sunday after being released on bail. The group, consisting of Satvinder Singh, Ajay Singh, Jasanpreet Singh and Manpreet Singh, was granted bail by the District and Sessions Judge in Gopeshwar, with each ordered to furnish personal bonds of Rs 50,000 along with two sureties of the same amount.
Legal Proceedings Continue
Despite their release, legal proceedings in the case remain ongoing. The four face charges under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act, as per FIR No. 0017/2026 registered at Karnaprayag police station. Manpreet Singh, who suffered a leg fracture during the clash, was brought to Punjab by ambulance after receiving treatment at AIIMS-Rishikesh. The other three reached Gurdwara Paonta Sahib in Nahan by private vehicle before proceeding to Mohali.
Honoured by Sikh Leaders
At Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, the four Nihangs were honoured by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Budha Dal chief Baba Balbir Singh, Dashmesh Tarna Dal chief Jathedar Baba Major Singh Sodhi, and other Nihang leaders. The group offered ardas at the site associated with the martyrdom of Baba Hanuman Singh, the seventh Jathedar of Budha Dal and a former Akal Takht Jathedar.
Akal Takht Jathedar Calls It Victory of Sikh Unity
Addressing the gathering, Giani Gargaj said the release reflected the unity of the Sikh Panth. He credited the intervention of Nihang organisations Budha Dal and Tarna Dal, along with discussions involving the Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand and Haryana, for securing bail. “This is a victory of the Sikh Panth and its unity,” Gargaj said, adding that efforts would continue to seek quashing of the cases. He also alleged that some elements had tried to spread misinformation about restrictions on carrying the kirpan during pilgrimages to Hemkund Sahib.
Manpreet Singh Recalls Incident
Recalling the incident, Manpreet Singh said the clash began after one of their motorcycles brushed against a local resident in Karnaprayag market. He alleged that a resident struck him with an iron rod, fracturing his leg. He acknowledged that the Uttarakhand authorities admitted him to a hospital and provided care. The June 16 assault case in Karnaprayag drew significant attention, leading to the arrest of the four Nihangs and subsequent legal proceedings.
