Hans News Service Patiala/Ferozepur

Shopsand markets remained shut while traffic movement was hit on the highways at many places in the state on Friday in the wake of a ‘Punjab Bandh’ call given by the Qaumi Insaf Morcha to press for the release of ‘Bandi Singhs’ (Sikh prisoners).

Heavy police deployment was made at many places across Punjab, including Amritsar, Ludhiana, Mohali and Jalandhar, to maintain law and order. The call for the bandh was given from 7 am to 2 pm. Bandi Singhs refers to Sikh prisoners convicted for their involvement in militancy during the Punjab insurgency of the 1990s.

Commuters, including office-goers and travellers, bore the brunt of the bandh call as they got caught up in road blockades by supporters of the Qaumi Insaf Morcha and various farmers’ bodies at several places, including Patiala, Mohali and Jalandhar.

Commuters at some places were seen requesting the protesters to allow them to proceed towards their destinations as tractor-trolleys and other vehicles were parked in the middle of roads, including state and national highways, by the agitators. Essential services such as medical emergencies, travel to airports, exams and wedding ceremonies were allowed, the Morcha leaders said. The protesters staged dharnas in Jalandhar, Ludhiana’s Ladhowal, Hoshiarpur and Ferozepur to vent their anguish over the non-release of Sikh prisoners.

They also took out marches on two-wheelers in cities. Shops at several places, including Sangrur, Ludhiana and Mohali, remained shut, barring medicine stores. Private schools remained shut on Friday as the Federation of Private Schools announced a holiday in view of the bandh call.