Amritsar, October 6
The city observed a complete bandh today in response to a call given by various Sikh organisations in protest against the torching of “birs” of Guru Granth Sahib at different places in Punjab in the past few days.

A number of activists of the All-India Youth Akali Dal, AISSF, Dal Khalsa were seen moving in groups in the main bazars in the city forcing the closure of shops and blocking the traffic. The bandh passed off peacefully, however, with minor incidents of scuffle in the walled city and in the Putlighar area.

The leaders of these organisations held rallies at a number of places and demanded that a law should be enacted to punish the miscreants responsible for the acts of sacrilege.

The traffic on the roads was thin and the banking services were paralysed. However, essential services, including buses, trains and hospitals, remained functional.

Reports of a banch were also received from Ludhiana district. Protesters burnt effigies of Baba Piara Singh Bhaniara at Sudhar, Raikot and Dehlon in the district.

PATIALA: A complete bandh was observed in the city to protest against the recent acts of sacrilege committed at various places in the state. Activists of various Sikh bodies and other social organisations participated in a protest march held here on Saturday.

The protesters, who took to the streets from early morning, demanded strict action against the culprits. Shopkeepers and traders observed a complete bandh in all the main bazars of the city as an act of solidarity with the protesters.

Members of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (youth), Youth Akali Dal (A), All-India Sikh Students Federation (Gill), Dal Khalsa, Panthic Morcha leaders and Khalsa Panchayat activists observed a complete bandh.

JALANDHAR: A complete bandh was observed in all parts of the district on a call given by various Sikh religious and political organisations to express their anger against the recent incidents of sacrilege in different parts of the state as all main bazars, hotels, cinemas and business establishments were closed here on Saturday.

The bandh was peaceful except one incident, in which some youths damaged a tea shop near police division No 4 in the morning. Shopkeepers of Rainak Bazar, Attari Bazar, Civil Lines, Model Town, Balmiki Gate, Mai Hira Gate, Punj Pir, Immamrasar, Peer Bodla Bazar and old parts of the city observed a complete bandh.

All the main roads and business areas wore a deserted look as people chose not to come out on roads. Some Sikh youths, who were seen moving on jeeps and motor cycles with swords in their hands, however, forced some of the shopkeepers and hotel owners in Civil Lines to close business. They even pelted stones on a hotel, damaging its windowpanes.

Meanwhile, the District Bar Association, at an emergency meeting here, condemned the recent incidents of sacrilege and urged the state government to take strict action against anti-national elements, who were trying to disturb communal harmony in the state.

SANGRUR: A large number of activists of the Panthic Morcha, led by Mr Jeet Singh Alloarkh, a senior leader of the morcha and district president of the SAD (A), today took out a protest march through the town to protest against the burning of “birs” of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at some places allegedly by the followers of Baba Piara Singh Bhaniara.

The protesters raised slogans against the Punjab Government and Baba Bhaniara, demanding registration of cases against the Baba and his followers involved in the burning of “birs” under Section 302 of the IPC.

The protesters tried to get the shops closed during the protest march and succeeded in doing so for about half-an-hour.

Baba Amarjit Singh, district president of the SAD (A) Dalit Front, Mr Labh Singh, president of the local unit of Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, and Mr Surinder Babbi, press secretary of the SAD, also participated in the march.

FATEHGARH SAHIB: A complete bandh was observed at Sirhind and Bassi Pathana towns of the district on Saturday in response to a call given by various religious and political organisation in the state to observe a bandh in protest against the burning of “birs” of Guru Granth Sahib at different places in the state. Most of the educational institutions remained closed in the district. Students of various schools and colleges led by the activists of the AISSF, took out a protest march from here to Sirhind town. They also blocked the traffic on the GT road, Sirhind. They raised slogans against the government and Baba Bhaniara and demanded to register action of a case under Section 302, IPC, against the Baba.

Reports of bandh and blockade of traffic were also received from the near by village. The traffic was disrupted at Attewali, Kotla Bajwara, Khamano, Roorkie, Bassi Pathana and Nand Pur Kalour in the district.

PHAGWARA: But for one tense incident, a spontaneous and peaceful bandh-cum-atonement day has observed here today to observe paschatap (repentance) over sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in various parts of Punjab, including Dhak Pandori (Phagwara), Ratangarh (Ropar), Tarkhan Majra and Gharuan (Fatehgarh Sahib) villages.

Though a traffic blockade had not been planned, it was enforced on the GT road for about 50 minutes when a halwai refused to close his shop at the entry point of the grain market along the GT road. Things came to a head when an activist of the Sukhmani Sahib Seva Society, Mr Manjit Singh, was roughed up by a youth in the halwai’s shop resulting in a scuffle.

Activists of the society alleged that the halwai, though a Sikh, repeatedly reopened his shop, though he closed it briefly when the bandh organisers approached him. It was only after one of the family members of the shop owner tendered a public apology and senior Akali leaders — Jathedar Gurmukh Singh, Mr Jarnail Singh Wahid and Mr Gurjit Singh Khalsa — and the SHO Mr Surinderpal Singh, intervened that the traffic blockade was lifted.

The administration, particularly the police, was on tenterhooks when it learnt that a Pakistan bus bound for Lahore had also got stranded in the unscheduled traffic blockade. The bus was diverted and sent through Mauli - Bhanoki villages towards its destination. Eyewitnesses said the bus remained stranded for 15 minutes before it was diverted to another route.

While the bandh was spontaneous in interior parts of the town, organisers were seen enforcing it in the outer areas. The 21-member Sri Guru Granth Sahib Society representing over a dozen religious, social and political Sikh bodies, including the ruling SAD and the rival Panthic Morcha, had called for the bandh and atonement day. The BJP and the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) supported the bandh and flayed the burning of “birs” of Guru Granth Sahib.

Bhog of Sri Akhand Path was observed at local Gurdwara Akalian to atone for the sin of sacrilege.

GURDASPUR: The bandh call given by the AISSF (Gill), SAD (A), SHSAD and the Panthic Morcha evoked a mixed response in the district today. The effigy of Baba Piara Singh Bhaniara was burnt here and at Chak Sharif. The AISSF group led by Pir Mohammad blocked traffic for half an hour at Dhariwal.

The bandh was partial at Dhariwal and Nussehra Majjha Singh and it was total at Harchowal, Uddanwal, Sri Hargobindpur,Qadian, Bhaini Mian Khan and Chak Sharif. It had no impact in Pathankot, Dinanagar, Gurdaspur and Batala.

The Bandh was, however, peaceful and no untoward incident was reported in the district said Mr Sukhdev Singh, SSP.

HOSHIARPUR: There was a mixed response to the bandh call by various Sikh organisations in the district in Saturday. According to official sources, a partial bandh was observed by the shopkeepers at Mahilpur, Saila Khurd, Garhdiwala, Kot Fatuhi Chabbewal and Tanda towns in protest against the recent acts of sacrilege in various parts of the state. Some activists of the SAD also blocked traffic at Mahilpur, the local Naloian chowk and Garhshankar for some time. Mr Sanjeev Kalra, SSP, said no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district.

NAWANSHAHR: On a call given by the All-India Sikh Students Federation, All-India Students Federation (Mehta) and Panthic organisations, a complete bandh was observed in the town on Saturday to protest against the increasing incidents of burning of ‘birs’ of Guru Granth Sahib in the state. The protesters raised slogans against the self-styled Baba Bhaniara and Badal government for not registering a case of murder against him. They also burnt an effigy of Baba Bhaniara at the local Chandigarh Chowk.