Punjab Bandh Today: What's Shut, Who Backs It and Why
Punjab Bandh October 15: Today’s Punjab Bandh is already having an impact with markets shut in many towns including Mansa. The bandh call was given after Parvinder Jhota’s killing in Mansa: who supports it, what is closed, and the demand for a CBI probe. (141 characters)
North Desk Correspondent
Chandigarh, October 14 (Updated October 15)
Punjab is observing a bandh today, Thursday, October 15. The call follows the shooting of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota at a medical store in Mansa on October 13. It has been backed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Shiromani Akali Dal, farmer unions and university bodies. The reports coming in suggest that the bandh is having its impact in many places with shops and markets shut.
Punjab Bandh October 15: Why the bandh
Parvinder Jhota was shot dead in Mansa on the morning of October 13, and four others were injured. The confrontation at the medical store, over the alleged sale of intoxicating medicines, was being livestreamed on Facebook. The accused is the store owner, Ashwani Kumar. He has since been apprehended from Salasar in Rajasthan.
Punjab Bandh October 15: An action committee has called the bandh. Parvinder Jhota’s father, Bhim Singh, has endorsed the call and demanded that the CBI take over the investigation. He has also sought protection for Parvinder Jhota’s children, alleging the family did not get adequate security despite threats. The family refused to cremate the body until its demands are met.
ALSO: Parvinder Jhota Shooting Video: Here’s what exactly happened
What police say, and what the family says
Punjab Bandh October 15: Bathinda Range DIG Harjeet Singh has said the shooting appeared to involve a licensed weapon and described old personal enmity as the suspected motive. Kumar was the man Parvinder Jhota had allegedly paraded with a shoe garland in 2023. Parvinder Jhota’s father has rejected the “old rivalry” account at the dharna, according to reports.
SKM (Non-Political) has also criticised a statement attributed to Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema that the killing arose from personal enmity. The union asked whether he would say the same if his own son were killed in similar circumstances.
Who is supporting the Punjab bandh October 15
Punjab Bandh October 15:
SGPC: The body announced support for the call. The report cites Advocate Dhami as saying SGPC offices and all its institutions will remain closed.
Shiromani Akali Dal: Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the party “wholeheartedly supports the bandh call given by his father” and appealed to Punjabis to extend “peaceful support”. He demanded a CBI probe into the entire conspiracy, “including the delay by the police in reaching the medical shop despite Jhota’s appeal”.
SKM (Non-Political), Punjab chapter: After an online meeting, the union led by national convener Jagjit Singh Dallewal announced full support. It demanded a CBI probe and the arrest of everyone involved. It also asked the High Court to take suo motu notice. The union claims Parvinder Jhota’s live video shows him repeatedly calling a DSP, and wants SHOs and SSPs held accountable for drugs sold in their areas. These are the union’s claims. North Desk has not independently verified them.
Punjabi University, Patiala: Student, employee and teacher bodies met on Wednesday and announced that the university will stay completely closed on Thursday. The groups include PSU (Lalkar), the Karamchari Sangh, DSO, PUCTA, Agragami and PUGTA. PSU, PRSU, SFI, ASSF and PSF also announced support. The press note carries the names of the office-bearers.
From Haryana: Tejveer Singh Panjokhra of BKU Shaheed Bhagat Singh announced support and appealed to schools, colleges, banks, market committees and bar councils to back the bandh.
Political reaction: Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia have criticised the Bhagwant Mann government over the killing, the drug situation and law and order.
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann said that the culprits won’t be spared and he said he has directed the Punjab police chief to ensure that.
What will be closed
Punjab Bandh October 15: Organisers have not yet published a consolidated list. Here is what is known so far.
Closed: SGPC offices and institutions, and Punjabi University, Patiala, according to the bodies concerned.
Schools and colleges: No official holiday announcement for October 15 had been reported as of Wednesday. A holiday ordered for October 13 in view of the Mansa situation does not apply to Thursday. Parents should check with their institutions and district administrations.
Markets, transport and banks: No official notice has been issued on timings, exemptions or transport. The bandh does not by itself close government offices or banks.
Roads and trains could be affected with farmer union and certain political parties supporting the bandh call.
What happened at earlier bandhs
This is precedent, not a notice for October 15. For the August 21 bandh over Bandi Singhs, organisers sought a 7 am to 2 pm shutdown of buses, markets and commercial establishments. Private schools were advised to close, while the government kept its schools open. Hospitals, medical shops and ambulances were exempted. Organisers of such bandhs have generally let emergency, airport-bound and wedding travel through.
Who was Parvinder Jhota
Parvinder Jhota was known in Mansa for campaigning against the open sale of drugs. The Mann government came to power promising to end drugs. The Punjab Government’s “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign is its flagship effort. The SKM note calls the campaign “political theatre”, and the government has not been quoted in reply to that.
ALSO: Who Was Parvinder Singh Jhota? Anti-Drug Crusader Shot Dead on Camera
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