Man beaten up in Amritsar after being suspected of spying on Nihang protesters

A roadside protest by Nihang Sikhs in Amritsar turned violent after a biker was accused of reconnaissance for a rival group. Police rescued the injured man after clashing with protesters, as both sides traded allegations and the inquiry continued.Nihang protest turned violent in AmritsarA protest by Nihang Sikhs on Amritsar's Jhabal Road turned tense on Friday night after protesters stopped another Nihang who had arrived on a motorcycle, accusing him of conducting reconnaissance for a rival group led by Major Singh Bhindwad.The confrontation began as the Nihang group first spotted the motorcycle and asked the rider to stop. A heated argument ensued between the two, which led to a physical scuffle. The Nihang Sikhs first snatched the man's mobile phone, checked it, and then started slapping him. They also pushed him from the motorcycle and beat him with bamboo sticks.Meanwhile, local police learnt about the confrontation and rushed to the spot quickly. Senior cop Majit Kaur and her team intervened in the tussle.However, the tension escalated further when Kaur tried to rescue the injured Nihang. Another scuffle and tug-of-war broke out between the police and the protesters during the attempt. Police, however, rescued the man and took him to the police station in their vehicle. Talking about the incident, Nihang leader Shamsher Singh said that his group had earlier been attacked and fired upon, following which they had staged the protest on Jhabal Road. He also alleged that there was an ongoing dispute with Major Singh Bhindwad and accused the opposing side of sending people to conduct reconnaissance.Shamsher Singh further alleged police collusion and expressed concern over the safety of his family.WHAT POLICE SAID Meanwhile, Manjit Kaur gave a different account of how Friday night's confrontation began. According to her, the dispute started over some vehicles passing through the area. The protesting Nihangs claimed that the vehicles belonged to Major Singh.The cop said there had already been a minor dispute between the two sides and that the latest confrontation was linked to that ongoing friction.The protest also affected traffic movement on Jhabal Road, with vehicles being diverted along alternative routes. Police officials were in talks with the protesters to persuade them to call off the demonstration.For now, both sides have levelled allegations against each other, while police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the assault and the subsequent confrontation between the protesters and police.- EndsPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Sep 19, 2026 09:57 IST