A tense three-day standoff at the Nagrasu (Damdama) Gurudwara in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district ended peacefully after negotiations between Nihang Sikhs and a delegation from Punjab, along with district authorities.
Officials confirmed that the Nihang Sikhs, who had been occupying the shrine since June 20, vacated the premises on Tuesday afternoon and left for Punjab after discussions.
The situation was brought under control after talks involving local administration and Sikh representatives helped defuse tensions.
Nihang Sikhs leave after assurances on legal action
According to officials, the group agreed to leave after being assured that legal proceedings against arrested members would be handled with leniency.
A police officer said, “They calmed down after we assured them that the arrested Nihangs would get bail soon and that the police would not aggressively pursue the case.”
However, the group also demanded that the case be transferred away from Chamoli district.
The officer added, “They did not want the matter to remain with Chamoli police, so we agreed to shift the case to Haridwar district.”
Exit from gurudwara after negotiations
Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police Niharika Tomar said the situation improved after detailed discussions.
“They were angry initially but came down after talks. Everything is fine now in the area,” she said.
Reports said that out of seven Nihang Sikhs involved in the incident, some had already left earlier, while the remaining members exited the gurudwara on Tuesday afternoon.
The group later left the area on motorcycles and returned to Punjab.
Background: clash in Karnaprayag triggered tensions
The standoff began after the arrest of four Nihang Sikhs following a violent clash in Karnaprayag in Chamoli district.
Police said the group had allegedly attacked shopkeepers with swords after a dispute over vehicle parking while they were travelling toward Hemkund Sahib.
Following the arrests, some members of the group moved to the gurudwara in Nagrasu and later occupied parts of the shrine, demanding the release of those detained.
The situation escalated when they remained stationed inside the gurudwara for several days, leading to heavy police deployment.
Gurudwara management and concerns raised
The gurudwara management said the situation developed after disagreements over accommodation and space issues, which later escalated into a confrontation.
Local Sikh representatives also alleged that police action after the Karnaprayag clash was unfair, prompting further anger within sections of the community.
One gurudwara official said security concerns remain important in the region, adding, “We have been asking for proper protection for years. Anyone can come here and create trouble.”
Peace restored after Punjab delegation intervention
The deadlock was finally resolved when a delegation of Nihang representatives from Punjab arrived and held discussions with the group.
District officials said coordinated efforts by police, administration, and religious representatives helped restore calm without further escalation.
Authorities confirmed that pilgrimage routes to Hemkund Sahib and Kedarnath remained unaffected during the incident, though security was increased as a precaution.
