A district court in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli on Saturday granted bail to all four Nihang Sikhs arrested in connection with the June 16 assault case in Karnaprayag. The accused had been lodged in judicial custody following the incident, which had triggered tensions in the region.
The bail was granted by the court of District and Sessions Judge Bindhyachal Singh in Gopeshwar. While allowing the bail applications, the court said that legal proceedings in the case would continue in accordance with the law.
The case stems from a clash between a group of Nihang Sikhs and local residents in Karnaprayag on June 16. Following the incident, police registered a case against the accused under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to attempt to murder and assault.
The incident drew widespread attention after several misleading and controversial posts related to the clash circulated on social media, contributing to a tense atmosphere in parts of Uttarakhand. Authorities had appealed to the public not to spread unverified information and warned of action against those circulating inflammatory content online.
THE ADMINISTRATION SOUGHT RESOLUTION THROUGH DIALOGUE
A day before the court’s order, representatives of the Uttarakhand administration and the Nihang Sikh community held a meeting to discuss the issue. The talks were described by officials as cordial, with both sides agreeing to maintain peace and resolve the matter through dialogue.
During the meeting, the Nihang representatives submitted four key demands to the administration. These included the withdrawal of the criminal case registered in connection with the Karnaprayag incident and the release of the arrested Nihang Sikhs.
According to officials, the administration sought two days to examine the demands and assured the delegation that appropriate action would be taken in accordance with the law.
With the court granting bail to all four accused, the immediate issue of their judicial custody has been resolved. However, the criminal case remains under judicial consideration, and further proceedings will continue before the competent court. Authorities have reiterated their appeal for peace and restraint while the legal process runs its course.
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Published By:
Ritaban Misra
Published On:
Jun 27, 2026 18:46 IST
