A group of armed Nihangs occupied a gurdwara and allegedly took a Sikh devotee hostage on its roof for three days, demanding the release of four members of their sect arrested on June 16 after a market clash in Chamoli where they reportedly injured four locals with swords. While reports of a hostage situation and intoxication of the Nihangs surfaced, with the gurdwara manager alleging assault and stone-throwing, district authorities stated no one was held hostage and that dialogue with the Nihangs was ongoing, leading to some individuals descending to speak with police and administration. The incident prompted a 12-hour internet shutdown and restrictions on gatherings and weapons in the state, with authorities offering to facilitate the Nihangs' return to Punjab, which they refused.

A group of armed Nihangs occupied a gurdwara and allegedly took a Sikh devotee hostage on its roof for three days, demanding the release of four members of their sect arrested on June 16 after a market clash in Chamoli where they reportedly injured four locals with swords. While reports of a hostage situation and intoxication of the Nihangs surfaced, with the gurdwara manager alleging assault and stone-throwing, district authorities stated no one was held hostage and that dialogue with the Nihangs was ongoing, leading to some individuals descending to speak with police and administration. The incident prompted a 12-hour internet shutdown and restrictions on gatherings and weapons in the state, with authorities offering to facilitate the Nihangs' return to Punjab, which they refused.

A group of armed Nihangs occupied a gurdwara and allegedly took a Sikh devotee hostage on its roof for three days, demanding the release of four members of their sect arrested on June 16 after a market clash in Chamoli where they reportedly injured four locals with swords. While reports of a hostage situation and intoxication of the Nihangs surfaced, with the gurdwara manager alleging assault and stone-throwing, district authorities stated no one was held hostage and that dialogue with the Nihangs was ongoing, leading to some individuals descending to speak with police and administration. The incident prompted a 12-hour internet shutdown and restrictions on gatherings and weapons in the state, with authorities offering to facilitate the Nihangs' return to Punjab, which they refused.

A group of Nihangs, all armed with spears and swords, stormed a gurdwara and allegedly took a Sikh devotee hostage on the roof of the shrine on Wednesday. The six men then demanded the release of four members of the Sikh sect who were arrested after a clash in Chamoli on June 16.

The Nihangs have been in the Gurdwara for three days since they took over on Saturday evening, June 20.

A heavy police force was deployed at the scene after the standoff began. "The police, district administration, and the Gurudwara management committee are in constant dialogue with the Nihang Sikhs, attempting to understand their concerns and find a solution," Superintendent of Police Niharika Tomar  said.

"The talks have yielded positive results; some of them have come down from the roof to speak with the administration and police, and dialogue with the remaining individuals is ongoing," she said.

Four Nihangs were arrested on June 16 after their group got into a clash over parking in the Karnaprayag market.

The group was returning from Sri Hemkund Sahib when they got into a verbal spat with locals at the market.

The pilgrims reportedly attacked the locals with swords, injuring four locals.

About four members of the group were subsequently arrested.

The remaining Nihangs then went into the gurdwara a few days after the incident and then locked themselves in, demanding that the four be released.

Reports also said that they took an elderly Sikh man hostage. However, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said no one had been held hostage.

Gurdwara manager Behant Singh said that the group of men who took over the Gurdwara were reportedly intoxicated and that they assaulted people at the religious place.

They also reportedly climbed onto the roof and threw stones and other objects from above.

The gurdwara management also said that the Nihangs asked for 50-60 rooms to house protesters who would come to protest the arrest of the four members of their sect.

"They started beating and abusing the volunteers even though we allowed them to stay overnight, provided them with food, but they started fighting with us again the next morning. Still, we tried to reason with them and make them leave. When we were leaving, they saw the police outside. They thought they were there to arrest them because they had been up to nefarious activities... So they went straight up to the fifth floor. They took over the place, broke the walls, and started throwing stones at us," Singh said.

The administration had maintained that the gurdwara has continued its pilgrimage activities, including prayers and Langar services

Behant also said that the Nihangs were offered to be dropped back to Punjab if they came down. However, they refused the offer.

The incident resulted in an internet shutdown in the state for about 12 hours. The administration in Chamoli also said that they enforce restrictions on processions, meetings, rallies and demonstrations. They have also banned weapons, including sticks, stones, spears, guns and pistols.

The Nihangs are a sect of Sikh warrior monks who consider themselves keepers of the martial traditions introduced by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh in 169.

They wear blue tunics and long turbans with steel disks.

They also carry weapons such as the Kirpans, daggers, iron shields and long spears.

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