Chandigarh, August 21: Punjab witnessed a bandh on Friday over demands for the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences and parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara to meet his ailing mother.
The bandh, called by the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha, was observed from 7 am to 2 pm. Shops and commercial establishments remained closed in several parts of the state, while public transport and traffic movement were affected at various locations.
The organisers said the bandh was aimed at drawing attention to the continued imprisonment of Sikh prisoners despite the completion of their sentences. They also sought parole for Hawara on humanitarian grounds.
Several roads and highways witnessed disruptions during the bandh, while security personnel were deployed at sensitive locations to maintain law and order. The Chandigarh-Mohali border also witnessed restrictions on traffic movement.
Private schools in several areas remained closed, while government schools continued to function. Essential services, including medical emergencies, were kept outside the scope of the bandh.
The bandh concluded at 2 pm, after which markets and transport services gradually resumed normal operations.