Uttarakhand police talks to Nihang Sikhs as Rudraprayag gurdwara siege continues
Police in Uttarakhand said efforts are under way to persuade the Nihang Sikhs stationed on the roof of a gurdwara in Rudraprayag district to come
Police in Uttarakhand said efforts are under way to persuade the Nihang Sikhs stationed on the roof of a gurdwara in Rudraprayag district to come down through dialogue. The administration said the talks have shown progress, with two Nihang Sikhs already coming down and discussions continuing with the others. Officials also said the Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage is continuing peacefully and rejected social media claims about a hostage situation or military deployment at the gurdwara. Read Full Story Superintendent of Police Niharika Tomar said, "Positive results have emerged from the talks. Two Nihang Sikhs have come down from the roof and are currently in discussions with the administration and police. Dialogue is continuing with the remaining Nihang Sikhs as well." Tomar said much of the information being circulated on social media was misleading and baseless, and refuted reports of a hostage situation at the gurdwara.
She said police and administrative officials were present to maintain law and order and described reports about deployment of military forces as completely false. Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said prayers, langar and the movement of pilgrims inside the gurdwara were continuing normally. Around half a dozen Nihang Sikhs climbed onto the roof of the Nagarasu Gurdwara, located between Rudraprayag and Gauchar on the Badrinath Highway, on the evening of June 20. They allegedly blocked access to the roof while demanding the release of Nihang Sikhs arrested in connection with an incident in Karnaprayag on June 16. During a minor dispute between Nihang Sikhs and locals in the Karnaprayag market, some people were allegedly injured in a sword attack.
A Nihang Sikh, Manpreet Singh, was also injured. Four Nihang Sikhs, including Singh, were later arrested in the case. Eyewitnesses said the Nihangs had been receiving food and other supplies while staying on the roof and had at times allegedly pelted stones to avoid being caught. Gurdwara manager Sardar Beant Singh had claimed on Sunday that the Nihangs had held a person hostage for some time before releasing him. The gurdwara, built a few years ago in Nagarasu, is used by Sikh devotees travelling to and from the Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage. In the Karnaprayag case, an FIR has been registered against unidentified persons at Karnaprayag police station on a complaint by the father of injured Nihang Sikh Manpreet Singh.
The BriefWire