Chandigarh: Commercial and educational establishments were shut on Thursday and transport services disrupted in parts of Punjab in response to a bandh called by Sikh outfits against the killing of two youths and police action during protests over alleged desecration of their holy book.
Officials said an uneasy calm prevailed in parts of the state where activists held protests and blocked roads. 150 protestors were taken into custody when they tried to hold a demonstration in Ludhiana.
Heavy police force has been deployed at sensitive places to maintain law and order, a day after two persons were killed and 75 others, including an IGP, were injured in clashes in Faridkot, Moga and Sangrur districts. To protest the killing and police action, radicals, including Damdami Taksal and Gurmat Sidhant Parcharak Sant Samaj had given a 'Punjab bandh' call for today.
In response to the bandh call, commercial and educational institutes at many places in Punjab especially Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar, parts of Tarn Taran remained shut. However, banks and pharmacies were open.
Kotkapura town - the nerve centre of protest yesterday - also observed a complete bandh. "No incident of violence has been reported from any part of Moga, Faridkot and Muktsar," police said.
Private bus operators kept off the roads today while private educational institution remained closed in many parts of the state, officials said.
Sikh activists blocked traffic at Smalsar on Moga-Kotkapura road at Himmatpura on Moga-Barnala road at Kotisekhan on Moga-Amritsar road, Jogewala on Moga-Ferozepur road, at Jalalabad east on Moga-Jalandhar road, Bughipura on Moga-Barnala road, Lunggiwind Kotisekhan Zira road, Gill village on Moga-Kotkapura road and Ajitwal on Moga-Ludhiana national highway, police said.
All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) also joined the protest and criticised the SAD-BJP alliance government for allegedly playing with the sentiments of Sikhs on religious matter.
AISSF head Karnail Singh accused the government of interfering in the religious affairs of Sikhs. "The government is trying to divert the attention of the people from other important issues including the pardon granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh by the high priests," he said.
Several hardliners took out a protest march in Moga town demanding immediate action against those responsible for the incident of desecration.
As a mark of solidarity with the protestors, volunteers of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sported black bands at various places in Hoshiarpur.
In the industrial town of Ludhiana, the bandh by Sikh organisations evoked a mixed response. "Around 150 protestors mainly of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) were taken into custody by police when they tried to sit on a dharna at Jodhewal," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Narinder Bhargava said. There was a complete bandh in Phagwara, officials said.
Activists of Sikh bodies took out a protest rally on scooters and motorcycles in Phagwara city, police said.
Sikh organisations are demanding action against those behind the incident of tearing of 150 pages of the holy book. Punjab government has announced a reward of Rs one crore for any person providing information on those who committed the sacrilege.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had also announced a judicial probe into the violent protest in Faridkot district yesterday.
