Allied organisations of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha have called for a Punjab bandh on August 21 to protest alleged police action against their supporters, the registration of cases and the continued detention of Sikh prisoners, commonly referred to as Bandi Singhs.
The bandh will be observed from 7 am to 2 pm, organisers said after a meeting of organisations associated with the morcha. They said the shutdown was intended to highlight their demands and protest what they described as police excesses against members of the group.
The call comes days after protesters marched towards the Punjab Governor’s residence in Chandigarh on August 15. Police used tear gas and water cannons after some protesters attempted to cross barricades and move towards Lok Bhavan, where Governor Gulab Chand Kataria’s residence is located.
Some protesters tried to remove barricades and barbed wire, while others reportedly attempted to pull them down with a tractor. Police also used drones to fire tear gas shells as the situation turned tense.
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann was detained while attempting to reach the Governor’s residence along with two others. Mann, who was seen with a bandage on his head, sat down near a barricade before being taken away by police.
Security had been strengthened along the Chandigarh-Mohali border, with multi-layer barricades, barbed wire, anti-riot vehicles and Rapid Action Force personnel deployed to prevent protesters from reaching Lok Bhavan.
The organisers said markets and public transport would remain closed during the seven-hour bandh and that road traffic would also be stopped. They appealed to the government to suspend train services, warning that protesters could block railway operations if trains continued to run.
Schools and colleges may also remain closed, subject to decisions by the authorities.
The organisers, however, said they did not intend to force people to participate. They said the seven-hour duration had been fixed to minimise inconvenience to the public.
Emergency services, including hospitals and medical stores, will remain open. People travelling to airports, appearing for examinations or attending weddings will also be allowed to travel.
SGPC backs bandh
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has extended support to the bandh. SGPC president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said the organisation would continue to support peaceful efforts seeking the release of Bandi Singhs.
All SGPC offices and institutions will remain closed on August 21. The SGPC has also postponed its Interim Committee meeting scheduled for that day. The meeting will now be held on August 22 at 11 am at the SGPC headquarters in Amritsar.
Dhami alleged that the government was attempting to suppress voices demanding the release of Sikh prisoners instead of addressing public sentiment on the issue. He said those committed to justice should oppose such an approach.
Simranjit Singh Mann has also backed the August 21 bandh. Addressing a press conference in Amritsar, he said schools, colleges, shops and railway services would remain closed during the shutdown.
Morcha leaders have accused the Punjab government and police of using excessive force against protesters and alleged that cases were registered against some supporters. They also claimed that tear gas was fired near the Guru Granth Sahib and that some protesters faced cases over carrying kirpans.
The organisers have appealed to people across Punjab to support the bandh, saying several Sikh organisations have come together on the issue of the release of Bandi Singhs.
