Barricading, protests, snarl-ups: As PU simmers, Mohali feels the heat

While the campus remained the eye of the storm for student protest over Panjab University’s Senate and Syndicate elections, multiple border points in Mohali provided favourable conditions for the protesters’ build-up. On top of it, Mohali police did not intervene in the standoff even as UT police grappled to plug these multiple leak points — Phase 6, Phase 1, Phase 3A, and on the backside of Burail jail.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) leader Balbir Singh Rajewal, Harinder Singh Lakhowal (BKU Lakhowal) and Manjit Singh Dhaner (BKU Dakaunda) led the protest at Phase-6 border point to put pressure on UT police till the afternoon when cops gave way and the protesters walked up to Panjab University, accompanied by tractors and a cavalcade of vehicles following them.

Earlier, Rajewal supporters clashed with Haryana Police personnel who deboarded a bus in Phase 6, Mohali.

“We had come to lend support to our children, the student unions, but UT police stopped us by putting barbed wires and barricades. Ye centre government baimaan sarkar hai (The Centre’s government is dishonest). They brought Haryana police here in Mohali to attack us. Our boys chased them back,” Rajewal said.

At Amb Sahib gurdwara, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha Sarwan Singh Pandher gathered around 300 supporters, making phone calls and dropping messages to friends and supporters in the nearby areas.

Lakha Sidhana, Bhana Sidhu and others also marched from Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali in a bid to enter Chandigarh through the backside of Burail jail but were stopped at barricades. They, however, outnumbered Chandigarh Police and moved past the barricades near Sector 49-50 to reach the university.

A massive crowd had gathered outside Singh Shaheedan Gurdwara in Sohana as well, but Mohali police dipersed them with directions to not assemble in large numbers at one place and carry on with their travel towards their destination.

Protesting leaders claimed that they had no intention of a face-off but barricades and barbed wires reminded them of Delhi protest and hurt “Punjabi pride”.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DCP, City-2) Harsimran Singh Bal said, “There were no restrictions for anyone in Mohali. Due to barricading on the Chandigarh side, the free movement of vehicles was affected for which police made arrangements to streamline the movement of vehicle. The law and order situation remained peaceful.”

Row over UT, Haryana Police setting up ‘checkpoints’ in Mohali

Controversy erupted after political leaders and protesters heading to Panjab University (PU) to support student protests alleged that Chandigarh and Haryana Police set up checkpoints near Phase 6, blocking entry.

Meanwhile, Ropar Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nanak Singh refuted all such claims.

Sources privy to the matter said a Haryana Police bus deboarded reinforcements near Phase 6 instead on the Chandigarh side, adding fuel to the fire.

Former Health Minister and senior Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu said the “illegal action” of Chandigarh and Haryana Police — entering Punjab’s territory in Phase-6 Mohali and stopping people Punjab from entering Chandigarh — have once again made it clear that the CM Bhagwant Mann government has completely surrendered before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government.

“To stop Punjabis from participating in the student rally, the patrolling and checkpoints set up by UT and Haryana Police in Phase 6 is a direct assault on the autonomy, security and territorial integrity of Punjab,” he added.

The former minister recalled that during the second farmers’ agitation too, the Bhagwant Mann government had allowed the Haryana Police to set up barricades and take action within Punjab’s boundaries at Shambhu and Khanauri barriers.

“By sealing the entire city since morning, the police have attacked the democratic rights of Punjabis and caused inconvenience to citizens,” he further added.

The DIG, who reached Phase 6 to oversee the situation in the afternoon, said, “People are free to go to Chandigarh or any other place they want to go.”

“On the Punjab side, there is no restriction from the Punjab Police side and neither has any police been allowed to impose any restrictions here,” he further added.