PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Groups of Nihang Sikhs who were earlier planning to rally to Karnprayag deferred their plan after talks with officials of the police and administration late on Thursday night. According to officials, while most of the Nihangs agreed to suspend their plan after talks with authorities at Paonta Sahib Gurudwara in Himachal Pradesh, some of them managed to evade the police and reach the Race Course Gurudwara in Dehradun. Dehradun district magistrate Ashish Chauhan and senior superintendent of police Pramendra Dobal held talks with the Nihangs who also agreed to defer their plan. They were sent back to Paonta Sahib in the early hours of Friday.
The dispute began after an altercation between a group of Nihangs and locals in Karnprayag on June 16 which saw the visitors also using swords on the locals. The accused Nihangs were arrested and a few days later on June 20, another group of Nihangs had a dispute with the management of the Nagrasu Gurudwara. They ended up barricading themselves on the fourth floor and terrace of the building while taking two persons hostage. This dispute was resolved on the fourth day. While the Nihangs who decided to rally to Karnprayag on June 25 are demanding release of the four Nihangs accused in the Karnprayag violence from jail, a fair probe into the incident and removal of unnecessary restrictions during the Hemkund Sahib Yatra.
The administration assured the delegation of a fair investigation. It was also agreed that, for the time being, pilgrims undertaking the Hemkund Sahib Yatra would proceed in batches of five to ensure that law and order is maintained.
Haridwar senior superintendent of police Navneet Singh Bhullar said that the investigation into the Karnprayag incident has been handed over to Haridwar Police. An SIT under the supervision of city magistrate Shishupal Negi has been constituted to probe the matter.
