A clash unfolded between Nihang Sikhs and police officials at Gurudwara Akal Bunga in Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi, Punjab, resulting in the death of a police constable and injuries to three other officers, according to a PTI news agency report. The incident occurred when the police arrived at the gurdwara to clear the premises amid an ongoing dispute between two Nihang groups over the rightful ownership of the gurudwara.

The constable who lost his life in the clash has been identified as Jaspal Singh. A video shared by the ANI news agency shows an injured police personnel in a hospital following the clashes. Police arrived at the Gurudwara Akal Bunga to address an ongoing dispute between two Nihang groups regarding control of the gurdwara, situated opposite the main Gurudwara Ber Sahib.

The conflict between the Nihang groups began three days ago but escalated. In an attempt to vacate the gurdwara premises from the Nihang group led by Mann Singh, members fired indiscriminately at the police team. This resulted in the death of one police officer, with three others sustaining injuries.

The leader of the Baba Buddha Dal, Baba Balveer Singh, had taken a position at the front of a Gurudwara, accompanied by his two aides, Nirvair Singh and Jagjit Singh. On November 21, 2023, the head of the second breakaway faction of Baba Buddha Dal, Baba Maan Singh Vallo, along with 15-20 other associates, forcibly entered the Gurudwara and subjected two of the Gurdwara's employees to a brutal assault.

On November 21, the police arrested 10 individuals from the Mann Singh group of Nihangs and filed charges, including attempted murder and other sections of the IPC. This incident bears resemblance to a previous occurrence in 2020 when a Nihang lost his life in a similar clash.

The police registered an FIR, charging 10 individuals from the Mann Singh group of Nihangs with attempted murder and other sections of the IPC, on November 21. In 2020, a fatal clash occurred between the two Nihang groups, resulting in the death of a Nihang member.

Nihang Sikhs, a distinctive and traditionalist martial order within Sikhism engage in unique attire and adhere to traditional Sikh martial practices. Living on the fringes of society, they dress as medieval warriors, pledging allegiance to Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru, and specializing in the traditional martial art of gatka, similar to the modern sport of fencing.

Image source: Hindustan Times