The city was gridlocked on Wednesday due to multiple protest marches. The Youth Congress marched from Sector 15, while the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) started from the Sector 25 rally ground. Both groups tried to gherao the Punjab Vidhan Sabha during its session over alleged “paper leaks” in Punjab.
Even though the protest marches started around 3pm, a majority of the roads in the city remained blocked since the morning due to an advisory issued by the traffic police. Around 11am, movement was restricted for roads including Chitkara School Turn, Sector 14/25 Road, Sector-14/15/24/25 Chowk, Sector 15/24 Road, Sector-15/16/23/24 Chowk, and Sector 15/16 light points.
For the Youth Congress march, the roads from Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16 chowk, Sector 2/3/10/11 chowk, New Barricade chowk, and High Court chowk remained restricted from 10am.
The protest marches started around 3pm, closing major roads during peak office and school hours. Pritam, a Sector 11 resident, faced heavy traffic while commuting to Mohali for work. Commuters near Madhya Marg were also stuck in the afternoon chaos.
Meanwhile, the Youth Congress protest was stopped by the police near the Sector 15/11 dividing road on Madhya Marg, while the ABVP protest was stopped near the Panjab University gate number 3 road. Water cannons had to be used at both places; however, no major injuries have been reported. Around 20 protesters were detained by the police, but as of Wednesday evening, no FIR had been lodged.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, the Youth Congress protest was stopped by the police near the Sector 15/11 dividing road on Madhya Marg, while the ABVP protest was stopped near the Panjab University gate number 3 road. Water cannons had to be used at both places; however, no major injuries have been reported. Around 20 protesters were detained by the police, but as of Wednesday evening, no FIR had been lodged.
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