Punjab bandh: 7,500 schools closed, highways blocked as protest evokes mixed response

The Qoumi Insaaf Morcha initiated a 7-hour bandh in Punjab on Friday morning, demanding the release of Sikh prisoners. The bandh led to the closure of approximately 7,500 private schools in the state, as the Mini Bus Operators Association decided to stay off the roads in support. Government offices and most essential services remained operational, but government-owned buses continued to operate until around 9.30 am.

In Patiala, roads and markets were comparatively empty due to the bandh. Members of the Morcha and farmer organizations staged dharnas at various locations, including Bathinda, Sangrur, Patiala, Barnala, Faridkot, and Moga, to enforce the bandh. In Faridkot, a Nihang group led by Manpreet Singh Khalsa forced school principals to send children home, despite Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann supporting the release of the Sikh prisoners.

The bandh received mixed responses, with Mohali district witnessing a strong response, while protests remained peaceful in other areas. Emergency services, including ambulances, were allowed to pass through without delay.