Uttarakhand Parking Dispute Takes A Violent Turn On Hemkund Sahib Yatra Route | Exclusive

Last Updated:June 21, 2026, 18:15 IST

“Such incidents create fear and law and order challenges in crowded civilian and pilgrimage areas,” said sources

In an incident that has sparked tension in Uttarakhand, a minor parking dispute recently escalated into a sword clash between Nihang Sikhs and locals on the Hemkund Sahib Yatra Route.

Five people, including a pilgrim, sustained injuries in the incident.

One of the injured was airlifted to a private hospital in Dehradun for treatment. The injured were identified as Prakash Rawat, 26, Sudarshan Kandari, 55, Gajpal Singh, 50, and Harendra Singh, 42, all residents of Karnaprayag, and Manpreet Singh, 21, a resident of Mohali in Punjab.

The Hemkund Sahib yatra began on May 23 this year. “Nihangs traditionally carry sharp weapons, kirpans, swords, spears for self-defence as part of their religious practice. Authorities are clear that the weapons are part of the attire of Nihangs. But social media posts are questioning it leading to concerns on social media," according to top intelligence sources.

Similar past clashes near Jyotirmath involved attempts to attack with blades over petty issues. “Such incidents create fear and law and order challenges in crowded civilian and pilgrimage areas," said sources.

Local DM Vishal Mishra and SP are attempting defuse the tension. It is important as it affects inter-state relations between Punjab and Uttarakhand, said top security sources.

“The kirpan symbolises a Sikh’s duty to defend the weak, protect those facing oppression, and uphold righteousness," Hemkund Sahib Management Trust chairperson NS Bindra said on Wednesday.

“Tuesday’s incident was unfortunate. Though the Constitution guarantees the right to carry a kirpan as an integral part of the profession and practice of the Sikh faith, we have appealed to young pilgrims undertaking the Hemkund Sahib yatra not to carry swords unnecessarily," he said.

Past high-profile cases such as the 2021 Singhu border lynching where Nihangs claimed responsibility for killing a man over alleged sacrilege have created major problems in the past.

About the Author

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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