A fresh security scare unfolded on the Uttarakhand-Himachal Pradesh border after a large group of Nihang Sikhs breached police barricades and entered Uttarakhand despite heavy security deployment. The incident comes days after tensions surrounding the Karnaprayag clash and the Nagrasu Gurdwara standoff, prompting authorities to remain on high alert.
According to officials, around 200 Nihang Sikhs travelling from Chandigarh towards Uttarakhand were stopped by police at the Kulhal border check post. Security personnel had erected barricades and deployed a large police force to prevent the group from proceeding due to concerns over law and order. However, after negotiations failed, several members of the group reportedly broke through the barricades and continued into Uttarakhand, leading to tense moments at the border.
The heightened security follows a series of incidents linked to the June 16 Karnaprayag clash, in which four Nihang Sikhs were arrested after an altercation with local residents. The arrests sparked protests and culminated in a days-long standoff at the Nagrasu Gurdwara in Rudraprayag, where armed Nihang Sikhs had barricaded themselves while demanding the release of those detained. That standoff was eventually resolved peacefully through negotiations involving a delegation from Punjab.
Officials said additional police personnel have now been deployed across sensitive locations, particularly along routes leading to Rudraprayag and other pilgrimage areas. Authorities are closely monitoring the movement of the group to prevent any untoward incident and to ensure that public order is maintained. Senior administrative and police officers are coordinating with their counterparts in neighbouring states to manage the situation.
The Nihang representatives have maintained that their march is intended to express solidarity with those arrested after the Karnaprayag incident and to seek what they describe as fair treatment. Police, meanwhile, have appealed for calm and urged all parties to avoid actions that could escalate tensions further.
While no major injuries were immediately reported during the latest breach, officials remain cautious given the recent unrest in the region. Security arrangements continue to be strengthened as the administration seeks a peaceful resolution through dialogue, while ensuring that religious activities and the ongoing pilgrimage season remain unaffected.
