The ongoing standoff between the Nihang Sikhs of Punjab and the Uttarakhand administration has finally come to an end. The breakthrough was achieved late Friday night following a proactive initiative by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

A delegation of Nihangs had met CM Saini to seek his intervention in the matter. Following the meeting, the Chief Minister assigned his Political Advisor, Tarun Bhandari, the responsibility of mediating with the Uttarakhand government.

On Saturday, Bhandari personally visited the authorities and held dialogues. As a result of these discussions, the four Nihangs arrested in connection with the Karnaprayag assault case were granted bail.

Haryana CM’s Advisor Mediates the Peace

Tarun Bhandari shared details of the mediation, stating, "A meeting was held with the Nihangs from Punjab late Friday night at the Chandigarh CM residence to facilitate a compromise between the two parties. On the CM's instructions, I traveled to Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh today (Saturday) and held a meeting with the Nihangs at the Gurdwara Sahib. It was decided that the four arrested Nihangs would be released on bail by late night."

Timeline of the Dispute: How It Started

The controversy traces back to June 16 in the Karnaprayag market of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand.

• The Incident: A group of Nihangs returning from the Hemkund Sahib Yatra was involved in a minor accident when their motorcycle struck a parked car in the market.

• The Escalation: A verbal altercation quickly escalated into a violent clash. Allegations surfaced that some Nihangs attacked locals with swords and sharp weapons, injuring several residents.

• The Arrests: Taking swift action, the police arrested four Nihangs—Jasanpreet Singh, Ajay Singh, and Manpreet Singh (all residents of Mohali), along with Satvinder Singh (SAS Nagar). They were booked under severe charges, including attempted murder, and sent to jail.

Counter-FIR and Allegations of Bias

Following the arrests, the Sikh community alleged that the police had taken one-sided action and maintained that the Nihangs had acted in self-defense. Subsequently, based on a complaint filed by the father of an injured Sikh pilgrim, a counter-FIR was registered at the Karnaprayag Kotwali against unidentified locals.

The Protest March to Uttarakhand

Outraged by the arrests, a large contingent of Nihangs departed from Mohali and Chandigarh on June 25, marching toward Uttarakhand to demand the release of their companions.

The protesting Nihangs demanded:

1. The immediate release of the four arrested men so they could be brought back to Punjab with dignity.

2. An impartial, fair investigation into the FIR.

3. A probe into the alleged biased police action.

The march proceeded through Paonta Sahib (Himachal Pradesh) and reached the Kulhal border of Uttarakhand, where heavy police barricading prevented their entry. The situation remained tense until the successful mediation on June 26 led by the Haryana CM's office finally defused the crisis.