India’s minority Sikh community makes up more than half of Punjab’s 30 million population.
Shambhu:
Thousands of protesting farmers battling security forces have come under the protection of the Nihang Sikhs, a warrior sect dating back to the 1600s that is distinguished by its ink-blue robes and ancient weapons such as swords and spears.
The farmers, who are predominantly Sikhs and hail from Punjab, are demanding higher prices for their crops and have begun marching to Delhi earlier this month to press their demands on the government.
However, police stopped the march about 200 km (125 miles) from the national capital, using water cannons and tear gas to break up the demonstration.
On Wednesday, farmers said they would call off their protest for two days following the death of a protester. Police officials confirmed that the man died at the protest site, but said the cause of his death would only be determined by an autopsy.
While they waited for the march to resume, the Nihang warriors honed their skills by practicing swordsmanship, horsemanship, and meditation.
Many Nihangs, easily recognizable by their flowing robes and matching turbans, say they joined the march to “protect” the farmers.
Sher Singh, one of the Nihangs, said, referring to the spiritual leader of the Sikhs, “Guru Gobind Singh preached that Sikhs should always be ready to fight injustice and oppression.”
“We have to be prepared if these protesters face any trouble even at midnight.”
India’s minority Sikh community makes up more than half of Punjab’s 30 million population, and Nihangs took part in similar year-long farmers’ protests in 2021.
Raja Ram Singh, another Nihang, said, “Farmers are being tortured…The government should not think that they can scare the farmers…This is Punjab and we stand in solidarity with the farmers.”
According to local media reports, during March 2021, three Nihangs were arrested in connection with the murder of a Sikh man at a protest site, whom they accused of desecrating Sikh holy scriptures.
Media reports said the Nihangs did not deny the allegations and said the man had committed sacrilege by attacking their holy book.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
