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Patients, passengers, office-goers: No one spared as Qaumi Insaaf Morcha enforces Bandh in Mohali
The Morcha had called for a complete shutdown of commercial establishments across the state from 7am to 2pm to press for the release of Sikh prisoners incarcerated during the militancy years
From people heading to work, to families rushing to catch flights, to patients travelling for medical appointments and even those carrying a dead body for last rites, no one was spared as supporters of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha walked around Mohali roads, enforcing the Punjab Bandh.
The Morcha had called for a complete shutdown of commercial establishments across the state from 7am to 2pm to press for the release of Sikh prisoners incarcerated during the militancy years between 1980s and 1990s.
While the early morning hours were relatively peaceful, tensions rose around 10 am as the Morcha supporters laid siege to the Kharar flyover, stopping anyone who was looking to enter or exit Mohali. Those who took alternative routes were again stopped. Though police presence was visible at several points, commuters were largely left to their own devices to negotiate their way through the blockades.
At some locations, police personnel remained inside patrol vehicles while protesters, carrying swords and baseball bats, controlled the movement of vehicles.
Near Sunny Enclave, a family of four that had travelled from Ludhiana for a doctor’s appointment in Mohali was stopped from proceeding further despite showing appointment details. “We came all the way from Ludhiana for the doctor’s appointment. We did not know they would block the roads like this. What are we supposed to do now?” a family member said.
Another family race against time to catch an international flight. Brijesh and his family were travelling from Himachal Pradesh to catch a flight to Abu Dhabi but were stopped at one barricade, diverted to another route and then stopped again.
“This is harassment. They had said that they will allow vehicles heading to the airport but that is not happening here. Imagine having a flight at 2 pm and they are asking us to go after 2 pm. It makes no sense,” he said.
Some commuters eventually left their vehicles and began walking towards bus stops and railway stations, carrying luggage and trying to find a way out of the blocked routes.
Cab drivers, too, were left without work. Pawan, a cab driver, said his services were affected because he could not move his vehicle through the blocked roads.
The blockade also affected medical transport. Some hospital cabs were reportedly stopped, while ambulances were allowed to pass. Vehicles carrying petrol, milk and other supplies, however, were also not allowed to cross.
One of the most telling sights of the protest involved a vehicle whose occupants told protesters that they were carrying a dead body. An elderly woman, who identified herself as Kulwinder and appeared to be in her 80s, pleaded with protesters to let the vehicle pass. It was not allowed through.
Establishments that remained
open told to serve free food
In Phase 7 and border areas of Mohali-Chandigarh, vendors who kept their establishments open were asked to serve free food to protesters, according to people present there.
There were also reports of protesters misbehaving with mediapersons covering the bandh.
The Morcha has been holding an indefinite sit-in at the Mohali-Chandigarh border since January 7, 2023. Its leaders announced the Punjab bandh on August 15 after Chandigarh Police used tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse protesters who tried to breach barricades during a march towards the Punjab governor’s residence. Four FIRs were also registered on August 16 against five identified protestors under Section 223 (disobeying orders promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
