Punjab Bandh: Protests Turn Violent as Private Schools, Buses, and Highways Shut Down

Punjab was shut down on Friday (August 21) by the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha from 7 am to 2 pm. All private schools, along with buses, were closed during the bandh. However, there was no significant impact on trains. The Kharar-Chandigarh highway was closed. There were also arguments with members of the People's Front on duty. Nihangs closed a pizza shop in Mohali. Qaumi Insaaf Morcha members also closed open shops in Amritsar, Patiala, and Ludhiana. The atmosphere was tense in Patiala. Police rushed to the spot. The protester slapped the driver of the car in Jalandhar. The driver of the car was on his way to the hospital. There was a dispute over stopping the bus of AAP MLA Dimpy Dhillon. The police in Faridkot reached the spot after the bus was stopped and sent it back to the bus stand. There were also reports of bomb threats between the police and the BJP office in Amritsar and Mohali.