Chamoli: Uttarakhand Police have arrested four Nihang pilgrims following a clash between local traders and a group of devotees returning from the Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage near Karnaprayag market in Chamoli district.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Mantri Singh (21), Jasanpreet Singh (23), Ajay Singh (23), and Satvinder Singh (21), all residents of Mohali, Punjab. Police said the arrests were made after a complaint was lodged by a local resident, Gajpal Singh, regarding the incident that occurred on Tuesday.
According to police, the altercation took place near Krishna Palace Hotel and involved local traders, a resident identified as Prakash Rawat, and a group of Nihang pilgrims returning from Shri Hemkund Sahib.
Police alleged that during the clash, two of the accused attacked Rawat with sharp-edged weapons. Authorities further claimed that two other Nihang pilgrims assaulted local residents who attempted to intervene and stop the fight.
The incident left four people injured. One of the victims, who sustained serious injuries, was airlifted to a hospital in Dehradun for advanced treatment. The condition of the other three injured persons is reported to be stable.
Chamoli Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh Panwar said all four accused had been arrested and booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 281, 125, 109, 352 and 351(2).
“We have arrested all four accused persons. Strict action will be taken against anyone found disturbing law and order or endangering public safety,” Panwar said, adding that the situation remains fully under control and police are closely monitoring the area.
Meanwhile, the Shri Hemkund Sahib Management Trust, Govindghat, appealed to pilgrims to maintain peace, discipline and communal harmony during the pilgrimage.
In a statement issued on Tuesday night, Trust Manager Seva Singh urged devotees to undertake the pilgrimage with dignity and respect, keeping in mind the spiritual significance of the sacred shrine. He also appealed to pilgrims to avoid activities that could hurt religious sentiments, stay away from disputes, and cooperate with authorities in maintaining law and order as well as social harmony during the yatra.
