There was heavy police deployment in Amritsar on Thursday amid a Punjab bandh called by several farmers’ and workers’ organisations over the murder of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota in Mansa district.
Police said that adequate security arrangements had been made to maintain law and order during the call for bandh.
The KMM leader called for the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the Director General of Police (DGP), alleging that the law-and-order situation in the state had deteriorated. The leader also appealed to the public to ensure that emergency services remained operational during the shutdown, urging people not to obstruct patients, wedding processions or passengers facing emergencies. “We will appeal to the youth and Punjabis to allow patients to go during this shutdown and to ensure emergency services are maintained. If a groom arrives, it’s a wedding procession; he should be allowed to go. If a passenger arrives from the airport and has an emergency, he should be allowed to go.
Jaskaran Singh Teja, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), City, said sufficient police personnel had been deployed and the situation remained peaceful While speaking to ANI. He said no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands or force shopkeepers and businesses to participate in the shutdown. Explaining the reason behind the shutdown, the DCP said the call had been issued in connection with the activist murder in Mansa. He said police personnel had been deployed to ensure that people were not forced to close their shops or disrupt normal activities. “We say the honourable Chief Minister should resign,” the leader said. Emergency services should be maintained; lives should be maintained,” the leader said.
Thirdly, a call has been issued for a ‘Punjab Bandh’ tomorrow, October 15th. Jhota’s father, Bhim Singh, had criticised the state administration over its failure to prevent the attack and demanded accountability from the Chief Minister and the DGP. He also called for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). “Chief Minister and the DGP, if their conscience awakens, they should resign on their own. Furthermore, the investigation into this murder should be conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
On behalf of the committee, as well as all joint forums, activists, political parties, and organisations, we earnestly appeal to the people of Punjab to observe this shutdown starting from the morning,” Bhim Singh said.
