Punjab witnessed a statewide bandh on Friday, August 21, following a call by the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha over the demand for the release of Sikh prisoners, commonly referred to by Sikh organisations as Bandi Singhs.
The bandh was observed from 7 am to 2 pm, according to the organisers. Markets and shops remained closed in several parts of the state, while security arrangements were strengthened at sensitive locations. The Chandigarh Mohali border received particular attention from security agencies because of previous confrontations between protesters and police.
The Qaumi Insaaf Morcha has been conducting a prolonged protest demanding the release of Sikh prisoners whom it says have completed their sentences or are otherwise eligible for release. The organisation has also raised the issue of parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara.
The latest bandh call followed tensions between protesters and security personnel at the Chandigarh Mohali border earlier in August. During that confrontation, police used tear gas and water cannons to prevent protesters from entering Chandigarh.
Following those developments, the Morcha announced the statewide shutdown as a means of drawing attention to its demands and what it described as the treatment of its supporters.
On Friday morning, additional police personnel were deployed in several cities, including Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Security arrangements were also strengthened at the Chandigarh Mohali border, where multiple barricades and security personnel were positioned to prevent unauthorised movement into Chandigarh.
Road blockades were reported at some locations as supporters parked vehicles on roads. These blockades affected traffic movement and caused inconvenience to commuters travelling through parts of Punjab.
Despite the disruption, essential services were given exemptions from the shutdown. Medical services and other emergency requirements were expected to continue during the bandh. Organisers had also appealed for exemptions for certain essential activities.
The bandh also affected educational institutions. A federation representing private schools in Punjab announced a holiday, while Panjab University postponed examinations scheduled for the day because of the situation.
Several Sikh organisations and political groups extended support to the bandh. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee supported the call and postponed its executive committee meeting that was scheduled for August 21. SGPC offices and institutions were also announced to remain closed in support of the shutdown.
Farmer organisations also backed the bandh. The support from farmer groups and other organisations increased the potential impact of the shutdown across different parts of the state.
The central issue behind the protest is the demand for the release of Sikh prisoners. The term Bandi Singhs is commonly used by Sikh organisations to refer to prisoners whose release they are seeking on grounds including completion of sentences or eligibility for release.
The Morcha has maintained that some prisoners have remained incarcerated for decades and that the government should take steps to resolve their cases. These are claims made by the protesting organisations, and individual prisoners' legal circumstances differ from case to case.
One of the specific demands concerns Jagtar Singh Hawara, who is serving a life sentence in connection with the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. The Morcha has sought parole for Hawara.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has previously met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria in connection with a request for parole for Hawara, according to reports. The request concerns a temporary