NAWANSHEHAR: Complete bandh was observed in Nawanshahr and its adjoining towns like Banga, Rahon and Balachaur today. The call for the bandh was given by Sant Samaj, a radical organization, in protest against the allegedly anti-Sikh activities of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh.

In Nawanshahr, the protesters, chanting "satnaam wahuguru" also blocked traffic for nearly two hours at Chandigarh Chowk  There was no untoward incident here as all government institutions including schools and banks functioned normally. However, in Banga, some tension was witnessed when some outsiders, said to be the activists of Damdami Taksal, tried to force the bandh on some shopkeepers at the bus stand. The police prevented the situation from taking an ugly turn. The activists of SAD(A) also took out a protest march in the town. In Rahon, the bandh remained peaceful even as the protesters blocked traffic at the bus stand for nearly two hours. Bandh remained peaceful in Balachaur.