Days after the violent clash between Nihang Sikh pilgrims returning from Gurdwara Sri Hemkund Sahib and local residents at Karnaprayag, the Akali Dal ‘Waris Punjab De’ intervened and met senior police officials in Uttarakhand.
A convoy comprising ‘Waris Punjab De’ executive member Tarsem Singh, father of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh; Faridkot MP Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa; MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali; Harjinder Singh, a member of the managing committee of Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, Sohana; and others left for Uttarakhand from Gurdwara Sohana Sahib near Chandigarh on Sunday.
Tarsem Singh said the purpose of the visit was to urge the authorities to take unbiased action against those attempting to give the incident a religious colour and to dispel the atmosphere of fear and panic arising from the clash.
The delegation met DGP Deepam Seth and SSP Navneet Singh Bhullar, who assured them of a free and fair probe by an independent agency from outside the state.
“The police have also registered a cross-case against the local residents involved in the incident. We demanded the removal of irrelevant sections, such as Section 307, as the incident happened unintentionally, and sought the release of the Sikh pilgrims,” said Tarsem Singh.
On June 16, Sikh pilgrims returning from Gurdwara Sri Hemkund Sahib halted near a hotel in Karnaprayag market. The dispute reportedly began over the parking of a vehicle and later escalated into violence. Police initially alleged that some pilgrims used kirpans or swords they were carrying during the confrontation. The pilgrims were arrested and later produced before a court. The clash left four persons injured, including a Sikh pilgrim.
The four Sikh pilgrims, all from Mohali district and associated with the Sohana Gurdwara, were identified as Mantri Singh, Jasanpreet Singh, Ajay Singh and Satwinder Singh, all aged between 21 and 23 years.
The issue has since acquired religious and political dimensions, prompting intervention from Sikh religious authorities and heightened security arrangements along the Hemkund Sahib Yatra route.
A party activist said the delegation had stepped in to address the “atmosphere of fear” regarding the safety of Sikh devotees travelling to or returning from Gurdwara Sri Hemkund Sahib.
“It was a one-sided action by the Uttarakhand Police. This has hurt Sikh sentiments and could vitiate communal harmony. Our delegation has travelled from Punjab to Uttarakhand to protect pilgrims, assess the situation and provide on-ground support,” he said.
Reports stated that Uttarakhand Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli had directed the IGP (Garhwal) to conduct a fair and transparent investigation into the matter.
A status report on the incident has been sought from the ADGP (Law and Order). The Home Secretary assured that action would be taken against anyone attempting to give the incident a communal colour.
In view of a call for a demonstration by a community in Karnaprayag on Sunday, the administration imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the area. The order will remain in force until June 27.
Delegation meets Hemkund Sahib Trust Chairman
Meanwhile, the ‘Waris Punjab De’ delegates also met Narinder Singh Bindra, Chairman of the Gurdwara Sri Hemkund Sahib Management Trust.
“We met him to lodge our contest against his objectionable statement on the ‘shastra’ (Guru’s weapons), and he realised his mistake,” said Tarsem Singh.
Following the violent clash, Bindra had urged devotees to exercise restraint. He stated that kirpans (swords) symbolise a duty to defend the weak and uphold righteousness, clarifying that they are not strictly meant for offensive use