Uttarakhand Standoff Ends: Nihang Sikhs Agree To Return After Overnight Talks With Police

Dehradun: The tension between the Nihang Sikhs and the Uttarakhand police over the Karnaprayag clash and the Nagrasu Gurdwara dispute has now ended. After negotiations that lasted all night, the Nihangs agreed to return early Friday morning. With this, the situation in Dehradun is beginning to return to normal.

Where did the negotiations happen?

Nihang Sikhs on Thursday had gathered near the Kulhal check post at the Uttarakhand-Himachal Pradesh border. Earlier, the Nihangs had announced that they will march from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to Uttarakhand on Thursday, due to an old dispute at the Karnaprayag and Nagrasu Gurdwaras, in which the police had arrested four Nihangs.

In protest against these arrests, a group of Nihangs reached the Kulhal checkpost on the Himachal-Uttarakhand border. Negotiations were held with the administration in Paonta Sahib, but no agreement was reached on stopping the march, after which the Nihangs moved forward.

VIDEO | Dehradun: Nihang Sikhs called off their standoff and march after meeting with Police and District administration.

SSP Dehradun Pramendra Dobhal says, "Since this morning, police personnel had been deployed continuously near the Kulhal border. We are grateful that many… pic.twitter.com/8iqt7bRXwC

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 26, 2026

What did the Nihangs say?

The Nihangs had clearly stated that their aim was not to create conflict or disturb law and order, but rather they wanted to visit Hemkund Sahib peacefully and seek bail for their arrested comrades.

After this, about 50 Nihangs left for Dehradun on bikes, while about 150 returned to Paonta Sahib. Some Nihangs dispersed in small groups to different locations. Before the Nihangs could reach the Premnagar area on the Dehradun border, the police had already turned the entire area into a cantonment.

Meanwhile, the Nihangs evaded the police and headed towards Rishikesh, causing a stir there as well. Around 12 midnight, several roads, including the Dehradun-Rishikesh highway, were barricaded at the Jogiwala checkpoint, causing traffic jams in the city for hours. As soon as the Nihangs reached the Jogiwala checkpoint, the police turned them away, after which the group dispersed throughout the city.

Later, some Nihangs were housed in a Gurdwara located at Race Course Road in Dehradun, where a heavy police force was deployed outside. Negotiations between the district administration, police officers, and representatives of the Sikh community continued throughout the night. Finally, at 3:30 am, the Nihangs agreed to return to Paonta Sahib.

What did the Sikh community representative say?

Amarjeet Singh, a Congress leader and Uttarakhand Sikh community representative, who participated in the talks, stated that the Nihangs' intention was never to incite violence, but to find a peaceful solution. He added that this was never a fight between the hills and the Sikh community, but rather, there was rhetoric from both sides.

He praised the administration's role, but also stated that the government had initially made some lapses, which led to the escalation of the dispute. District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan and SSP Pramod Dobal also stated that the entire situation was handled peacefully and law and order remained under control.