72-hour standoff at Uttarakhand gurdwara ends, Nihang Sikhs vacate premises
The nearly 72-hour standoff involving a group of Nihang Sikhs at a gurdwara in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district ended on Tuesday evening as they vacated the
The nearly 72-hour standoff involving a group of Nihang Sikhs at a gurdwara in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district ended on Tuesday evening as they vacated the premises of the shrine after talks with a delegation from Punjab, according to officials. "The gurdwara management and the police administration worked together to resolve the issue peacefully. All those involved have now left the premises, and normalcy has been restored," Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Read Full Story Videos circulating on social media showed the Nihangs leaving the gurdwara on their motorcycles, with police personnel facilitating their safe and orderly exit. The standoff began on Saturday. Around half a dozen Nihang Sikhs, armed with swords and spears, had stormed the gurdwara, which is located on the Badrinath Highway. They climbed onto the roof and blocked the entrance to the terrace.
The scene unfolded after four members of their sect were arrested in connection with an incident that took place in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on June 16. According to officials, the dispute in Rudraprayag began when a group of Nihang Sikhs demanded accommodation for upcoming demonstrations, which the gurdwara management could not fully provide due to limited capacity. The situation later turned into a confrontation.
Following the escalation, the group occupied the higher levels of the shrine. During the confrontation, the Nihangs climbed onto the gurdwara's roof and the topmost floor. They remained there despite repeated requests from the administration to vacate the premises. Ends (With inputs from PTI)
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