Security tightened in Uttarakhand after Nihang Sikhs breach border barricades, head towards Hemkund Sahib

Security was intensified across parts of Uttarakhand after a group of Nihang Sikhs allegedly broke through police barricades at the Kulhal check post on the Uttarakhand-Himachal Pradesh border late Thursday night and entered the state despite efforts by authorities to stop them.

The development came against the backdrop of recent tensions in Karnaprayag in Chamoli district, where a dispute involving Nihang Sikhs and local residents prompted the administration to tighten security and monitor movement along key entry points into the state.

Advertisement

Border standoff lasts for hours before barricades are breached

Officials said nearly 200 Nihang Sikhs travelling from Chandigarh towards Uttarakhand through Himachal Pradesh were stopped at the Kulhal check post after the district administration and police erected barricades to prevent their entry.

Before the confrontation at the border, officials and representatives of the Nihang Sikhs held a meeting at Paonta Sahib Gurdwara. The discussions lasted for nearly two hours but ended without a resolution.

While some members of the group agreed to return, around 20 to 30 Nihang Sikhs reportedly crossed the Kulhal bridge and reached the check post. Security personnel stopped them there, leading to a prolonged face-off.

According to officials, the group later allegedly breached the barricades and continued towards the Dehradun-Paonta highway.

Police deploy additional forces across Dehradun

Authorities said some members of the group were carrying and waving swords while moving towards Dharmwala. The administration subsequently deployed heavy police personnel and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) troops along the route.

Additional police forces from different parts of Dehradun district were also sent to reinforce security after the group’s entry into Uttarakhand.

Officials said the Nihang Sikhs remained firm on their demand to proceed towards Hemkund Sahib.

Late on Thursday night, police set up fresh barricades at Prem Nagar Chowk to stop the group from entering Dehradun city. District Magistrate Dr Ashish Chauhan and Senior Superintendent of Police Parmendra Dobal visited the site and reviewed the security arrangements.

By around 1 am on Friday, the group had not reached the Prem Nagar area. Police said they were still trying to determine the group’s exact location.

Intelligence agencies were also engaged in tracking the movement of the Nihang Sikhs and identifying the route they had taken.

The heightened security measures follow a dispute between Nihang Sikhs and local residents in Karnaprayag in Chamoli district. The incident prompted authorities to increase surveillance and security across parts of Uttarakhand.