Protests were held in several parts of Punjab, including Ludhiana and Jalandhar, during the Punjab bandh called by the Valmiki community. The administration deployed additional police personnel to maintain law and order, while partial disruption to markets and traffic was reported in several areas. Protesters demanded government action regarding their concerns.
The Punjab bandh called by the Valmiki community had its most visible impact in Jalandhar and several districts of the Doaba region. From the morning, many markets remained closed in Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Phagwara and nearby areas. Private schools and several commercial establishments also remained closed as a precaution.
The bandh was called in protest against the alleged police lathi-charge on sanitation workers in Barnala. Protesters demanded an impartial investigation into the incident and action against those found responsible.
Representatives of the Valmiki community and various social organisations held peaceful demonstrations during the bandh. Protesters said the incident should be investigated impartially and strict action should be taken against those responsible. Processions were organised at several locations, and memorandums were submitted to the administration reiterating their demands.
Punjab Police and district administrations remained on alert during the bandh. Additional police personnel were deployed in sensitive areas, major markets and key intersections to prevent any untoward incidents. Police officers monitored the situation at several locations, while continuous patrols were carried out.
The administration appealed to the public not to pay attention to rumours and to maintain peace. Special arrangements were made to ensure that essential services were not affected. However, the closure of markets and disruption to traffic caused inconvenience to the public in several areas. The impact on normal life was comparatively greater in Jalandhar and nearby districts, while it remained limited in cities such as Ludhiana, Patiala and Bathinda.
Several private schools had informed students and parents in advance that they would remain closed because of the bandh. School bus services were also suspended in several areas. Many markets, shops and small business establishments voluntarily remained closed in support of the bandh. Government offices and essential services, however, continued to function normally.
Trade organisations did not officially extend widespread support to the bandh, although many local traders voluntarily kept their shops closed. Public transport services continued to operate in most areas, though traffic movement slowed at some locations due to the demonstrations.
Representatives of the Valmiki community said their objective was not to inconvenience the public but to effectively convey their demands to the government. They said they would continue to raise their concerns through democratic means until appropriate action was taken in the matter. The administration stated that it was continuously monitoring the situation and that maintaining law and order remained its highest priority. The situation was under control across most parts of the state, while security arrangements remained on alert in view of the demonstrations.
