Mixed response to bandh, Indo-Pak buses diverted
Strike passes off peacefully; protesters raise slogans against Pak
CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR/JALANDHAR: A day-long bandh called by different organisations in Punjab against the Amarnath attack evoked mixed response on Friday.
The strike passed off peacefully and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the state, the police said.
At a few places, the protesters raised slogans against Pakistan and terrorism, they said. The bandh was called by various Hindu organisations, including the Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena (Hindustan) and the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray), in protest against the killing of seven Amarnath pilgrims on July 10 in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.
In Phagwara, residents took out a rally from the Hanumangarhi Temple complex and marched through the city streets, police said. Most of shops were closed and vehicles remained off the road.
A huge police force was deployed in the city to maintain peace.
As a precautionary measure, authorities diverted ‘Sada-e-Sarhad’ buses plying between Delhi and Lahore, Phagwara superintendent of police PS Bhandal said.
While the bus bound for Delhi from Lahore took the Kartarpur-Subhanpur-Kapurthala-Nurmahal-Phillaur route, the Lahorebound bus took the Phillaur-Nurmahal-Nakodar-Kapurthala-Kartarpur route, he said.
In Ludhiana, the industrial hub of Punjab, there was a partial response to the bandh call. Except Chaura Bazaar and its adjoining markets in the old city, all other markets, local transport, factories and banks functioned normally, the police said.
Scores of activists of various Hindu organisations took out a procession and raised slogans against Pakistan in Ludhiana, police said.
In Moga, all commercial establishments, banks and educational institutions remained closed, police said.
A heavy police force was deployed at all government installations in Moga.
PATHANKOT MARKETS REMAIN OPEN
PATHANKOT: The city remained unfazed over the bandh call as the markets remained open in the town. The Shiv Sena leaders however assembled in the post office chowk, raised slogans against Pakistan, lit peace candles and dispersed without forcing anyone to shut down their shops.
The adjoining Sujanpur town also remained open whole day.
BATALA OBSERVES COMPLETE BANDH
BATALA: A complete bandh was observed in the entire town throughout the day. The protesters gathered at Qila Mandi from where they carried a protest march and later held a dharna at Gandhi Chowk. Condemning the incident, the Shiv sena leaders urged the J&K government to ensure safety of the Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and strict action against the accused.
MIXED RESPONSE IN GURDASPUR
GURDASPUR: The call for Punjab bandh on Friday evoked almost complete response in Gurdaspur. All the main markets of the city remained completely closely whereas the shops and other business complexes situated in the outer parts were found functioning normally.