Bathinda: A bandh called over the murder of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota received widespread support across Punjab’s Malwa region on Thursday, with markets shut, private schools and colleges closed, and highways blocked at several places.Reports also emerged of police stopping protesters from blocking highways and altercations at some locations.The shutdown disrupted public transport, with very few buses operating on some routes. Life came to a standstill in several towns as traders downed shutters and protesters blocked highways and internal roads. The Anti-Parminder Singh Murder Action Committee had called the bandh from 6am to 5pm on Oct 15 over Jhota’s killing in Mansa on Oct 13.The protest at the Mansa intersection on the Barnala-Mansa-Sirsa highway continued for a third day, drawing large crowds demanding justice. Rainwater had inundated the protest site after heavy showers late Wednesday night and early Thursday, but it was drained with the administration’s help before protesters reassembled.Protesters blocked the Bathinda-Zirakpur national highway at Rampura Phool and several other locations in Bathinda district. Farmers’ groups also took out bike rallies and blocked roads.The bandh was backed by the Congress, BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal, Akali Dal Waris Punjab De, Akali Dal Punar Surjit and SAD (Amritsar), along with farmer organisations, including the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, BKU (Ekta Ugrahan), BKU (Ekta Dakaunda), BKU (Rajewal) and BKU (Lakhowal).Youth and employee associations also extended support.In Barnala, protesters had heated exchanges over the tearing of flex banners bearing chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s photographs.Mansa remained shut for the third consecutive day. Shops had closed on Tuesday following Jhota’s killing and remained shut on Wednesday as protesters gathered during the demolition of the accused Ashwani Kumar’s shop and house. Traders again downed shutters on Thursday in response to the bandh call.
