A group of Nihangs chopped off an assistant sub-inspector’s hand on Sunday after being stopped from violating the lockdown in Patiala in Punjab, triggering a police operation in which shots were fired and 11 suspects arrested after they ran inside a gurdwara.

The group of Nihangs allegedly attacked the police team after being asked to show curfew passes at a vegetable market in Sanaur town at 6.15am, police said.

Doctors at Chandigarh’s PGIMER reattached the left hand of ASI Harjeet Singh, 50, after an operation which lasted over seven hours, officials said.

The stand-off at the gurdwara ended after the police arrested the 11 suspects, including the five involved in the mandi attack.

A video clip on social media on the purported attack shows assistant sub-inspector Singh seeking help. A man picks up the severed hand and gives it to the officer. The officer is then taken away from the scene on a two-wheeler

The ASI was taken to Rajindra hospital and referred to PGIMER in Chandigarh, where he was undergoing surgery, the police said.

With the lockdown in place to contain the spread of Covid-19, barricades were put up outside the wholesale market and entry restricted to those with curfew passes.

A Punjab policeman shows a cut on his leg after being attacked by Nihangs at a market in Patiala on Sunday. (PTI)

The Nihangs — members of a Sikh sect whose adherents carry traditional arms and wear blue robes — arrived in an SUV and were told to stop by the mandi officials, the police said.

“They were asked to show passes. But they rammed the vehicle against the gate and the barricades,” Patiala’s senior superintendent of police Mandeep Singh Sidhu said.

The group then attacked the police personnel and fled to Gurdwara Khichri Sahib, managed by them, in Balbera village, around 25km from Patiala city.

Policemen led by inspector-general (Patiala zone) Jatinder Singh Aaulakh stopped the movement of people a kilometre away from the gurdwara and surrounded it, the police added.

Several policemen took positions in nearby fields. The special operations group of Punjab police was involved. Media was barred from going near the gurdwara.

Three pistols, petrol bombs, swords, sacks of poppy husk and LPG cylinders were found in and around the gurdwara, Punjab director general of police Dinkar Gupta said.

“We requested them through the public address system to surrender but they refused,” he said. The Nihangs inside hurled abuses at the policemen.

Some residents, including a sarpanch, also went inside to talk to them but they did not relent, the police said.

The Nihangs threatened to set fire to the cooking gas cylinders if police entered, Gupta said. The DGP said an exchange of fire also took place.

Earlier, Punjab’s special chief secretary K.B.S. Sidhu said the police acted in a respectful manner when they entered the gurdwara.

“The police party observed full maryada while entering the gurdwara premises. There were women and children inside, who were unharmed, and have been left secure within the Gurdwara as before,” he tweeted.

Sidhu said five of the arrested men were a part of the gang that launched “an unprovoked murderous assault on a police party, with sharp-edged weapons”.

Earlier, DGP Gupta tweeted: “In an unfortunate incident today morning, a group of Nihangs injured a few Police officers and a Mandi Board official at Sabzi Mandi, Patiala. ASI Harjeet Singh whose hand got cut off has reached PGI Chandigarh.

“I have spoken to Director PGI who has deputed top plastic surgeons of PGI for surgery, which just started. The Nihang group will be arrested and further action taken soon.”

In another tweet, Gupta said: “Grateful to PGI for full support. Director PGI tells me that surgery has already started by 2 senior surgeons who will do their best. All of us praying to Waheguru for his full recovery!”

Political leaders cutting across party lines condemned the brutal attack and sought strict action against the perpetrators.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh tweeted: “Have given instructions to the Punjab Police to deal with anyone breaking the law in strictest possible manner.”

Akali stalwart and former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal too condemned the attack. “There is no place for violence in a civilised society,” Badal said in a statement here. He said the police throughout the country had been performing a difficult task most selflessly.