Watch: Sikh pilgrims, Uttarakhand locals clash after minor dispute; 4 injured
A clash between a group of Nihang Sikh pilgrims returning from Hemkund Sahib and local residents in Uttarakhand left four people injured and triggered hours-long
A clash between a group of Nihang Sikh pilgrims returning from Hemkund Sahib and local residents in Uttarakhand left four people injured and triggered hours-long protests that brought traffic on the Badrinath Highway to a standstill. According to police, the incident took place in Karnaprayag on Monday after a minor dispute broke out between some Nihang pilgrims and local traders. The dispute escalated rapidly, and two pilgrims allegedly attacked local resident Prakash Rawat with a sharp-edged weapon. Police said two other Nihang pilgrims allegedly assaulted residents who intervened to stop the fight, leaving four locals injured.
Read Full Story One of the injured was airlifted to Dehradun for treatment, while the condition of the other three is reported to be stable. Police rushed to the spot and detained all four accused. Based on a complaint filed by one of the victims, a case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The incident sparked widespread anger among local residents and traders, who blocked the Badrinath Highway and staged protests demanding strict action against the accused. Demonstrators also blocked traffic at Panchpuliya, while the movement of pilgrims was temporarily halted at Gauchar.
Thousands of travellers remained stranded on both sides of the highway as the blockade continued for nearly five hours. The protest was called off only after Chamoli District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police reached the spot and assured locals that strict action would be taken against those responsible. Traffic on the Badrinath Highway was subsequently restored. Amid the controversy, Hemkund Sahib Management Trust manager Seva Singh appealed to pilgrims visiting the shrine to maintain the sanctity of the yatra and refrain from taking the law into their own hands. Expressing concern over pilgrims carrying large weapons during the yatra, he said such displays often create fear among local residents and have contributed to repeated disputes in recent years.
He appealed to devotees to undertake the pilgrimage peacefully, focus on prayer and seva, and refrain from brandishing weapons during any disagreement, saying such behaviour is not in keeping with Sikh values. The incident has heightened tensions in the region and prompted renewed calls for stricter monitoring of pilgrims carrying traditional weapons during religious processions and yatras. Ends
The BriefWire