Punjab Bandh: Chaos Erupts Over Parminder Singh Jhota Murder
Punjab sees shutdowns and road blockades after the murder of activist Parminder Singh Jhota. Police detain protesters in Amritsar.
The state of Punjab came to a standstill on Thursday as a massive Punjab bandh Parminder Singh Jhota was observed across various districts. The shutdown was triggered by widespread outrage following the brutal murder of Parminder Singh Jhota, a young anti-drug activist from the Mansa district. The situation escalated rapidly after a video documenting the killing went viral on social media, prompting farmers' and workers' organisations to demand immediate government accountability and strict action against the perpetrators.
Tensions High in Amritsar
In Amritsar, the protests took a disruptive turn as demonstrators blocked multiple roads, leading to severe traffic congestion. The blockade created a critical situation on the streets, leaving numerous commuters stranded, including several children. Most alarmingly, three ambulances carrying patients were trapped in the gridlock, risking lives as they struggled to reach medical facilities.
Police officials, including DCP Jugraj Singh, intervened to manage the crisis. According to the DCP, the primary focus of the administration was to ensure the safe passage of the patients in the ambulances, noting that any harm to them would have been a grave failure of the administration.
Police Action and Detentions
The administration attempted to resolve the standoff through dialogue. Police personnel and a duty magistrate appealed to the protesters to clear the roads peacefully to allow emergency services to pass. While the majority of the protesters cooperated and cleared the path, a small group remained defiant.
"We made a lot of requests and everyone listened. There were a lot of kids stuck in the vehicles behind us. There were many patients, and three ambulances were stuck back there. So everyone else agreed to our request and cleared the whole road," DCP Jugraj Singh stated.
The DCP further explained that approximately five to seven individuals continued to create obstructions despite repeated warnings and requests from the duty magistrate. When these individuals refused to comply, the police were forced to detain them to restore order and ensure public safety.
The Trigger: The Killing of an Activist
The unrest stems from the tragic death of Parminder Singh Jhota, who was known for his activism against drug abuse in Mansa. Reports indicate that Jhota was allegedly shot by a medical shop owner on Tuesday. Although he was rushed to a hospital with bullet injuries, he later succumbed to his wounds.
The murder has sparked a wave of indignation across the state, with various organisations calling for the statewide bandh to pressure the government into ensuring a fair investigation and swift justice for the fallen activist. Following the police intervention in Amritsar, traffic was eventually restored, and authorities reiterated their commitment to maintaining law and order while treating all citizens equally.