Tear gas, water cannons used against Qaumi Insaf morcha protesters, Punjab Bandh call on August 21
Some protesters attempted to remove barricades and barbed wire, and some others tried to pull them down using a tractor as they attempted to proceed towards the residence of the Punjab Governor at the Lok Bhavan in Chandigarh
On August 15, 2026, police in Chandigarh deployed tear gas and water cannons to stop protesters attempting to breach barriers during a march to the residence of Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria. The demonstrators were advocating for the release of Sikh prisoners, including Jagtar Singh Hawara, serving a life sentence for murdering then-Punjab CM Beant Singh in 1995.
Some protesters tried to remove barricades and barbed wire, while others used a tractor to try and move them. Police fired tear gas rounds and used water cannons to disperse the crowd, also dropping teargas shells via drone. Meanwhile, the Qaumi Insaf Morcha announced a call for a Punjab Bandh on August 21 to press for the release of Sikh prisoners, urging people to support the shutdown.
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann was detained while attempting to reach the Governor's residence. Tight security measures were in place at the Chandigarh-Mohali border, with multi-layer barricades, barbed wire, anti-riot vehicles, and heavy force deployed.
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