Punjab Bandh Today Live Updates: Why Punjab Is Shut Down, Public Impact, And What’s Open

Punjab Bandh Today: Statewide shutdown called over the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa. Check bus status, schools, and market response.

North Desk Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 15

Life across several parts of Punjab saw major disruptions on Thursday following a statewide bandh call from 6 am to 5 pm. The shutdown was called by an action committee demanding justice for anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, who was shot dead in Mansa earlier this week.

Several farm outfits, including the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, along with local transport unions and civil rights groups, have extended ground-level support to the protest.

ALSO: Who Was Parvinder Singh Jhota? Anti-Drug Crusader Shot Dead on Camera

Why was the Punjab bandh called today?

The trigger behind the Punjab Bandh today is the daylight killing of prominent anti-drug crusader Parvinder Singh Jhota in a Mansa marketplace. Jhota had been actively campaigning against the illicit drug trade and the unauthorized sale of habit-forming pharmaceutical drugs like pregabalin across local chemist shops.

Following his murder, an action committee was formed comprising social activists, youth groups, and farm bodies. His family and supporters have refused to cremate the body until their demands are addressed. Their key demands include:

• a probe by the central bureau of investigation into the murder

• a post-mortem examination conducted by doctors from PGI Chandigarh

• strict, systemic action to wipe out synthetic and medical drugs across the state

• accountability and administrative responsibility from the state home department

ALSO: Parvinder Jhota Shooting Video: Here’s what exactly happened

How is the public response to the Punjab bandh today?

The response to the bandh has been notably strong in southern and western districts like Mansa, Bathinda, Moga, and Sangrur, while northern hubs like Amritsar and Jalandhar are witnessing heightened police vigilance.

• Mansa and Malwa belt: commercial establishments, major markets, and retail stores kept shutters down since early morning. Roads leading to Mansa were heavily barricaded by state police, with heavy tipper trucks deployed as roadblocks to deter protest convoys.

• Amritsar and Majha belt: farmer outfits staged sit-ins and rallies against the administration. while city markets saw a mixed, voluntary shutdown, security personnel were deployed in strength across sensitive roundabouts and entry corridors.

• Chandigarh and tricity border: legal work at local courts saw halts after bar associations called a no-work day, while inter-district commuting between Mohali and neighboring areas experienced checkpoint delays.

What is affected and what remains open?

What is closed or facing disruption

• Public bus transport: bus services run by Punjab Roadways and the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation, alongside private operators, faced significant interruptions. Multiple bus stands in Mansa, Barnala, and Bathinda wore a deserted look, stranding early commuters.

• Retail markets and wholesale bazars: shops, grain mandis, and local commercial zones in protest-hit districts stayed shuttered.

• Schools and colleges: several private institutions shifted to online classes or declared precautionary holidays, though no blanket state-wide shutdown was mandated by the education department.

• Road movement: key intersection blockades or chakka jams were organized on select state highways, especially across Moga, Barnala, and Mansa.

What remains operational

• Emergency services: hospitals, private clinics, emergency ambulances, and fire services remain completely operational and exempt from blockades.

• Chemist shops: medical stores catering to urgent prescriptions have stayed open, though regular neighborhood trade is subdued.

• Banks and financial institutions: bank branches are officially open as per standard working schedules, though physical footfall remains low due to traffic curbs; digital banking, UPI, and ATMs continue uninterrupted.

• Railways: train networks continue normal operations, though passengers heading to railway stations faced road transit delays.

Security arrangements

Punjab Police have deployed extra battalions in sensitive districts to prevent law-and-order breaches. Senior police officials noted that while peaceful protest is permitted, no forced closure of private shops or harassment of commuters would be allowed. Commuters travelling across inter-district highways in Punjab have been advised to track local police route updates before starting out.

ALSO: Who Was Parvinder Singh Jhota? Anti-Drug Crusader Shot Dead on Camera

Follow North Desk on WhatsApp for the latest from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7ccdxJENy2H87DBG3E