CHANDIGARH: Markets and academic institutions were shut, highways blocked and public transport disrupted across Punjab Thursday as a statewide bandh over the murder of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota received widespread support. Emergency services remained operational, while police intervened at several places to prevent forced closures and clear traffic.Shops remained shut in Mansa, Bathinda, Sangrur, Barnala, Moga, Patiala, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur and other towns. Many private schools declared holidays while toll plazas in parts of Ludhiana and Patiala suspended collections in support of the bandh.The ‘Anti-Parminder Singh Murder Action Committee’ had called the bandh. The protest at the intersection on the Barnala-Mansa-Sirsa highway continued for a third day. Despite heavy rain inundating the site overnight, protesters reassembled after the water was drained. They blocked Bathinda-Zirakpur highway at Rampura Phool and roads at several other locations. The blockades forced traffic diversions and left passengers stranded.The bandh received backing from Congress, BJP, SAD, Akali Dal Waris Punjab De, Akali Dal Punar Surjit, and SAD (Amritsar), besides farmer and youth associations.
