The Punjab bandh call given by the hardliners in memory of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots passed of peacefully in the city barring one incident at Mata Rani Chowk, where a local leader of Vishav Hindu Parishad (VHP) had to seek police cover when he was confronted by some hardliners.

It is in the afternoon that Baljit Jassain, VHP leader, reached Mata Rani Chowk area. Eye witnesses claim that he had come to this area along with five to seven people to ask the area shopkeepers to open their shops. However on reaching the spot, Bassian was attacked by people a section of hardliners who chased him. Bassian then hid in a nearby lane and it was swift action on the part of the SHO, Division No 4, Dharam Pal who helped Bassian leave the area unhurt.

SSP Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, when contacted, said, “The bandh passed off peacefully. We have no reports of any untoward incident from the area around.” When asked about the Mata Rani Chowk incident, the SSP added, “It was basically an mis-understanding. Bassian was travelling in a vehicle in that area and he thought he could cross over while the other group thought that he was there to create some mischief. The situation was however resolved immediately and no one was hurt. So on the whole the bandh was peaceful.”

Meanwhile shops and trading units remained partially closed, some out of fear and other in support of the bandh call. Harjit Singh, a shop owner in Chaura Bazaar, who had shut down his premises said, “I have supported this bandh for even after twenty five years justice has not been done to the people who lost everything in these riots.” To this, Kulwinder Singh, another shopkeeper shrugs and says, “While I too feel the same yet I really do not know how a one-day bandh will solve the issue. This is simply a harassment to general public, who actually has no role to play in this politics at all. I decided to sit home for I did not want anyone to come and break my shop or harm me. So it is a holiday for me today.”

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