Dehradun: The four Nihang Sikhs arrested in connection with the recent clash in Karnaprayag in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district were granted bail by a district and sessions court in Chamoli on Saturday, official sources said.
District and Sessions Judge Bindhyachal Singh allowed the bail applications of Satvinder Singh, Ajay Singh, Jasanpreet Singh and Manpreet Singh. The court ordered their release on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each along with two sureties of the same amount.
The four accused are facing charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act in connection with the June 16 incident.
According to the sources, following the court's order, the administration may allow them to return to their home state of Punjab. This move is expected to ease the situation that arose following the dispute in Karnaprayag on June 16.
The arrest of the four Nihangs had earlier led to a standoff at the Nagrasu gurdwara in the Rudraprayag district. The standoff ended after three days on June 23 following the intervention of a Sikh delegation.
Later, on the night of June 25, a group of Nihang Sikhs forcibly entered Uttarakhand through the Kulhal border in the Dehradun district, which adjoins Himachal Pradesh, demanding the release of the arrested men. Officials managed to persuade them to return to Paonta Sahib.
However, officials clarified that the release of the accused depends entirely on court orders. With the court having granted bail, the accused will be released after completing the required legal formalities and furnishing the sureties, after which they will be allowed to leave Uttarakhand.
On June 16, a minor dispute between local residents and Nihang Sikhs in Karnaprayag escalated into an alleged sword attack, leaving a few people injured. A Nihang Sikh was also injured in the incident. The police registered a case and arrested four Nihang Sikhs, who are currently in judicial custody.
During the hearing, the defence counsel argued that the accused were falsely implicated. The counsel stated that the group was on a religious pilgrimage when many local residents assaulted them, seriously injuring one of the accused, Manpreet Singh.
The prosecution opposed the bail plea, arguing that the allegations were serious and that the release of the accused could lead to tampering with evidence. The prosecution said an argument escalated following a road accident and police subsequently modified the charges during the ongoing investigation.After hearing both sides, the court observed that the clash appeared to have triggered from a sudden road dispute rather than prior enmity. It also noted that the offences invoked carry a maximum punishment of seven years' imprisonment and, without commenting on the merits of the case, found sufficient grounds to grant bail.
Meanwhile, the police remain on alert as a precautionary measure and vigilance is being maintained at the Kulhal border. Police officials said that while movement across the border remains normal, the situation is being closely monitored.