Punjab Home Guards Constable Jaspal Singh Killed in Clash with Nihang Sikhs in Kapurthala

A clash between Nihang Sikhs and the police in Kapurthala’s Sultanpur Lodhi resulted in the death of a Punjab home guards constable and left five policemen injured in the early hours of Thursday. The deceased constable has been identified as Jaspal Singh, who was stationed at the Sultanpur Lodhi police station.

The clash stemmed from an ongoing dispute between two Nihang groups over the control of the Gurdwara Akal Bunga, located opposite the main Gurdwara Ber Sahib. The situation escalated when the police attempted to remove the Nihang group led by Mann Singh from the Gurdwara. In response, members of Mann Singh’s group opened fire indiscriminately, killing Jaspal Singh and injuring five policemen.

The incident has heightened tensions in the area ahead of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh master, on November 27. The Nihangs, who are heavily armed, have barricaded themselves inside the Gurdwara, while the police have cordoned off the area and are engaging in negotiations with the Nihang group to vacate the premises.

Previously, the Gurdwara was under the control of Baba Budha Dal Balbir Singh from Patiala. However, on November 21, Mann Singh’s group forcefully took possession of the Gurdwara by assaulting two Gurdwara employees. The police have already registered an FIR against the Mann Singh group for attempted murder and other charges and have arrested 10 Nihangs from the group.

This is not the first clash between the two groups. In 2020, a Nihang was killed during a similar confrontation. Nihang Sikhs are known for their distinctive attire and adherence to traditional Sikh martial practices. They live on the fringes of society and consider themselves medieval warriors, following Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of Sikhism.

In a separate incident in 2020, a group of Nihangs attacked a group of policemen at a vegetable market in Patiala, chopping off one officer’s hand and injuring six others. The clash underscores the ongoing tensions between Nihang Sikhs and law enforcement in Punjab.