In Jammu and Kashmir, the Sikh population consists of native residents and communities originated from Punjab through migration, especially during the period of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Khalsa army's ascendancy.
[1] The forebearers of the Sikh community in the valley were indeed native to regions including Poonch/Pothohar, Rawalpindi, Muzzafrabad, and Kashmir.
These early Sikh settlers represented a diverse range of castes, including Dutt's, Sasan's, Sudan's, Sadiwal's, Raina's, Reen's, Lou's, Bali's, and many more.
These Sikh migrants included Lubanas, Jatts (primarily Chahals, Deols, and Sandhus), Khatris (predominantly Chawlas).
According to The Tribune, a newspaper based in Chandigarh, the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir faces divisions due to the proliferation of community organizations, with a recent example being the split between the J&K Akali Dal and the Gurdwara Prabandhak Board (reported on October 4, 1998).