A major confrontation between protesters and Chandigarh Police over the release of Sikh prisoners has led to a call for a Punjab Bandh on August 21.
The shutdown call was announced by the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha after a protest march towards Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria's residence on August 15 ended in clashes between demonstrators and security personnel and protesters demanding the release of Sikh prisoners attempted to cross police barricades at the Chandigarh-Mohali border, prompting police to use tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
The Qaumi Insaaf Morcha had called for a march towards the Governor's residence to demand the release of Sikh prisoners, popularly referred to as "Bandi Singhs", the morcha argues that several Sikh prisoners continue to remain in jail despite completing their sentences or becoming eligible for release. Apart from seeking the release of all eligible Sikh prisoners, the group has also been demanding parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara so that he can meet his ailing mother.
The protest movement is not new, as the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha has been staging demonstrations near YPS Chowk in Mohali and along the Chandigarh-Mohali border since January 2023 and over time, several Sikh organisations and political groups have extended support to the agitation.
Hundreds of protesters gathered near the Chandigarh-Mohali border and attempted to march towards Lok Bhavan, the official residence of the Punjab Governor. Police had already sealed all entry points between Chandigarh and Mohali and multi-layer barricades covered with barbed wire were installed to prevent protesters from entering the city. Anti-riot vehicles, Rapid Action Force personnel and a large police force were deployed at the protest site, around 3,000 police personnel had reportedly been placed on alert ahead of the march.
The situation escalated when some protesters tried to remove barricades, according to reports, some demonstrators also used a tractor to pull down the barricades in an attempt to move towards the Governor's residence. Police responded by firing several rounds of tear gas and using water cannons to push the crowd back. Reports also said that drones were used to drop tear gas shells from above.
Police maintained that the force was used only after protesters attempted to breach barricades and create a law and order situation. Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwardeep Kaur repeatedly appealed to protesters to remain peaceful and not move beyond the restricted area and officials also claimed that some police personnel were injured during the confrontation. There were also reports of stone pelting during the clash.
On the other hand, leaders of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha accused the police of using unnecessary force against peaceful protesters. The morcha said it would continue its campaign through democratic and peaceful means.
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann was also stopped by the police while trying to reach the Governor's residence and Mann, who was seen with bandages on his head, sat near a barricade before being taken away by police, some reports claimed that he approached the area disguised as a patient, although police did not officially confirm those reports.
The term "Bandi Singhs" is commonly used to refer to Sikh prisoners convicted in militancy-related cases during the Punjab insurgency of the 1980s and 1990s and among those whose release is being demanded are Jagtar Singh Hawara, Balwant Singh Rajoana and Devinderpal Singh Bhullar.
Hawara and Rajoana were convicted in connection with the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, while Bhullar is serving a sentence in the 1993 Delhi bomb blast case and the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha argues that some prisoners have remained behind bars for decades despite completing their sentences.
Before the march, a video message from Hawara surfaced on social media. In the video, he appealed to the Sikh community, especially young people, to ensure that the protest remained peaceful and that no untoward incident took place during the march.
Following the clash, the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha announced a statewide bandh on August 21 and appealed to people across Punjab to support the shutdown and the bandh is expected to become the next phase of the movement, with the morcha indicating that it will continue its campaign until its demands regarding Sikh prisoners are addressed, however, details regarding the extent of the shutdown and its impact on transport, markets and public services are yet to be officially announced.
