A violent clash broke out between the Chandigarh Police and members of the Quami Insaaf Morcha on Tuesday as they tried to march towards the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The morcha, which was demanding the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences, had planned the protest to mark the second anniversary of their demonstration.
The protesters, who had gathered in large numbers near the Mohali side of the Punjab-Chandigarh border, managed to breach barricades and march towards the Chandigarh bus stand. In response, the Chandigarh Police deployed a large number of personnel to block their advance, closing both sides of the road near Sector 43.
Chandigarh’s Inspector General of Police RK Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur were present at the site when the situation escalated. As the police attempted to stop the protesters, a violent clash ensued. Four police officers, including Station House Officer Jaiveer Singh Rana, Assistant Sub-Inspector Ramesh Kumar, ASI Gurjit Singh, and Constable Jaspreet Kaur, suffered injuries from sharp weapons.
To regain control, the police fired 6-7 rounds of teargas and used lathicharge against the protesters. The protesters were eventually pushed back to the Mohali border, where they tried to break through additional barricades. At this point, the Chandigarh Police resorted to using a water cannon and firing 11 more rounds of teargas shells. Many protesters were injured, and a six-year-old girl, who was with her protesting parents, lost consciousness after a teargas shell exploded nearby.
Morcha members accused the police of attacking them mercilessly, claiming that one of the teargas shells hit a tin roof where Guru Granth Sahib was installed at their protest site. One activist, Jasbir Kaur, suffered an injury to her hand and condemned the Punjab government’s use of force against peaceful protesters.
After talks with police officers including Mohali SP Harbir Singh Atwal and DSP Harsimran Singh Bal, the situation was brought under control. However, Chandigarh Police detained about 40 activists and brought them to the Sector 36 police station. Three separate FIRs were registered against the protesters, and police are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the accused.
The violent clash has drawn attention to the ongoing issue of Sikh prisoners' release and has raised concerns over the handling of public protests in the region.
