Punjab Witnesses Partial Statewide Shutdown Till 2 PM As Sikh Groups Demand Release Of Inmates Who Completed Jail Terms | Video

Chandigarh: Several Sikh religious and political organisations seeking the release of Sikh inmates, who have completed their prison terms, on Friday gave a statewide shutdown of Punjab till 2 p.m. amid heavy security buildup.

The impact of the shutdown was partial in the morning despite farmer organisations, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Waris Punjab De and others extending support. However, there was no report of violence so far, a senior police official told IANS here.

The shutdown call comes in the wake of the use of security forces on the Mohali border on August 15 to disperse demonstrators with the use of batons, tear gas and water cannons as they were forcefully making their way to Chandigarh to lodge their protest outside the residence of the Governor.