The bandh call given on the 25th anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots by several Sikh groups led to a virtual shutdown in Punjab, but no incident of violence was reported from anywhere in the state.

With public transport off the roads, markets closed, some trains were stopped and many cancelled while traffic was stopped at about 30 places. Some private schools and some banks were also closed at a few places as a precautionary measure.

Asserting that the bandh call was an outcome of the people’s resentment against the Centre’s apathy towards the victims of the 1984 Sikh riots, who had been denied justice even after 25 years, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal thanked the people for a peaceful state-wide bandh.

He urged the Centre to be sincere and honest in providing speedy justice to the hapless riot victims by punishing the guilty to restore their faith in the judiciary.

The bandh call was given by 10 hardliner Sikh groups, including Dal Khalsa, Sikh Students Federation of India, Panch Pardhani, Sikh Youth Federation Bhindranwale and Damdami Taksal.

In Nawanshahr and Kapurthala districts, the markets were completely closed while in Amritsar, Faridkot, Patiala, Tarn Taran and Barnala most markets were shut. The subzi mandi in Banga in Nawanshahr was completely closed. At many places even Akali Dal workers were seen closing down shops.

Traffic disruption was witnessed at a few places like Nusheharan Pattan, Old bus stand, Mahilpur and Jagroan bridge in Ludhiana. The traffic on the highways was less, with the private bus operators already having decided not to ply buses sensing that there might be trouble.

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