Nihang-police standoff eases after peace talks at Gurdwara Paonta Sahib, group warns of agitation if demands not met
The discussions ended on a positive note, with the administration assuring the Nihang Singhs that all their demands would be heard within the next two days.
PTC News Desk: The standoff between the Nihang Singhs and local residents in Uttarakhand appears to be easing following successful peace talks with the administration after a meeting held at the historic Gurdwara Paonta Sahib.
The discussions ended on a positive note, with the administration assuring the Nihang Singhs that all their demands would be heard within the next two days.
Following the assurance, the Nihang Singhs agreed to postpone their planned march to Uttarakhand. They will now remain at Gurdwara Sri Paonta Sahib and peacefully wait for the administration to act on their demands.
Speaking to the media, Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Navneet Singh Bhullar said the peace meeting was held with the Nihang Singhs at Gurdwara Paonta Sahib. He said all their demands were heard, and they also submitted a written memorandum to the administration.
Bhullar said the administration is taking action on the demands as per the law. He added that the Nihang Singhs have assured the authorities that they will maintain peace and will not take the law into their own hands. He also said that all the demands are being examined and appropriate action is being taken in regard with all the legal procedure.
Referring to the clash between Nihang Singhs and local residents in Karnaprayag, Uttarakhand, Bhullar said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to conduct a fair and impartial investigation into the incident.
He added that the situation remains peaceful following the successful talks.
Meanwhile, Nihang leader Jagdeep Singh Akali said the meeting with the Uttarakhand administration was positive and that the authorities had assured them that their demands would be addressed. He said the administration had sought two days to act on the issues, and during this period, the Nihang Singhs would not proceed towards Uttarakhand.
However, Jagdeep Singh warned that if their demands are not met within two days and the arrested Nihang Singhs are not released, they will decide on their next course of action. He also asserted that they would return to Punjab only after securing the release of the arrested Nihang Singhs.