Quami Insaaf Morcha protest turns violent in Chandigarh; policeman injured

The protesters were seeking the release of Sikh prisoners or ‘Bandi Singhs’ and had entered Chandigarh from Mohali where they gathered in the morning to mark the second anniversary of the Quami Insaaf Morcha.

While the Mohali police had fortified the entry and exit points into Chandigarh, the Chandigarh police had enhanced security arrangements and deployed additional forces on the borders. But several protesters still managed to enter the capital.

“We barricaded all the entry points into Chandigarh but the protesters entered Sector 53 from near the N-Choe and started a protest in Sector 43,” H S Bal, Mohali Deputy Superintendent of Police (City-2), told The Indian Express.

Tear shell used by Chandigarh police at the Quami Insaaf Morcha protests.

At Sector 43, near ISBT, Chandigarh, a clash broke out between the police, CRPF officials and the protesters. Police sources said that a few Chandigarh police officials were attacked by the protesters, leaving them injured.

Meanwhile, the police also detained a few protesters at Sector 43 and Sector 52 in Chandigarh.

In February 2023, a clash had broken out between the Quami Insaaf Morcha protesters and the Chandigarh police at the Mohali-Chandigarh border, following which the police had registered cases against the Morcha leaders.

Since February 2023, Quami Insaaf Morcha members have been protesting along Sector 52/53, Chandigarh, and YPS Chowk, Mohali, demanding “justice in sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib; justice in missing of 328 Swaroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib; justice in release of Bandi Sikh (Sikh prisoners) who fought for Sikh community and completed their jail terms and justice in the firing incident at Kotakpura and Behbal Kalan, Punjab”.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court is hearing a PIL by Arrive Safe Society of Chandigarh, through Harman Sidhu, seeking removal of encroachments from around YPS Chowk, Mohali, where the protests are being held.