Punjab Newsline | Mohali/Chandiagarh

Punjab witnessed widespread disruption on Thursday as the Qaumi Insaf Morcha enforced a statewide bandh from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., impacting transportation, markets, educational institutions and commercial activities across several districts.

The bandh call, aimed at pressing demands for the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences and seeking parole for Jagtar Hawara, convicted in the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, saw significant response in many parts of the state.

The Chandigarh-Kharar highway was blocked, causing major traffic disruptions. Buses arriving from Himachal Pradesh were stopped at Kharar, leaving passengers stranded. Many travelers were forced to carry their luggage and continue their journey on foot as vehicles were unable to proceed towards Chandigarh and Delhi.

In Amritsar, bus services remained off the roads, causing inconvenience to commuters. Markets in Jalandhar and Kharar also remained closed, while traders were urged to shut down shopping malls, wholesale markets and other commercial establishments during the bandh.

The morcha had also announced plans to block national highways, state highways and district roads, affecting the movement of buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws. Railway services were likely to face disruption as protesters declared their intention to stage demonstrations on railway tracks.

Several schools in Chandigarh and Mohali remained closed, while the Private Schools Association appealed to institutions to declare a holiday in view of the bandh. Offices and educational institutions run by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) also remained shut.

Authorities remained on alert as the bandh led to disruptions in normal life across multiple regions of Punjab.