Punjab Bandh Shuts Markets After Anti-Drug Activist Murder
Protesters shut down Punjab on October 15 to demand justice for murdered activist Parvinder Singh Jhota and the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
A statewide shutdown paralyzed Punjab on October 15, 2026, following the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota by a chemist in Mansa. The bandh, supported by a coalition including the Congress, BJP, Akali Dal, and various farmer unions, led to the closure of private schools and markets in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Patiala. In Mohali, protesters created massive traffic congestion with blockades at Landran Chowk and the Zirakpur-Patiala highway.
Sarwan Singh Pandher and the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee led demonstrations, including the symbolic burning of an effigy of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Protesters accused the state administration of failing to curb the drug menace and alleged that police officers are involved in drug trafficking. The committee demanded the immediate resignations of Chief Minister Mann and Punjab Police DGP Gaurav Yadav.
Authorities responded by placing Akali Dal Waris Punjab De leader Manpreet Singh Ayali under house arrest. While Punjab Roadways maintained that bus services remained available, passenger turnout dropped significantly. The protests resulted in one fatality in Ludhiana, where a 22-year-old man was electrocuted while removing a banner. While many markets closed by noon, some government institutions and businesses in Zirakpur and Derabassi remained operational.
