Protest near Chandigarh escalates as demonstrators press parole demand
A protest march seeking the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences and pressing for parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara turned confrontational on Saturday near the Chandigarh–Mohali border, officials and organisers said. Security forces used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the crowd after demonstrators attempted to push through a cordon set up around Chandigarh.
The march was led by members of the Qaumi Insaf Morcha and intended to proceed towards the Punjab Governor’s residence in Chandigarh. Authorities had anticipated the demonstration and deployed a significant security presence, erecting multiple barricades at key entry points into the city.
Police sources said some protesters tried to force the security line and that tractors were used to dislodge barriers. After water cannon failed to halt the advance, security personnel resorted to firing tear-gas shells. Witnesses reported tear gas was launched both from ground positions and by aerial systems employed by security agencies. Following the dispersal measures, demonstrators withdrew from the immediate confrontation area, officials said.
"Maintain discipline, avoid provocation and ensure that the protest remained peaceful."
The quoted line was taken from a video message attributed to Hawara that surfaced on social media a day earlier; in the message he appealed to supporters to keep the demonstration peaceful, according to officials familiar with the matter.
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief and former Member of Parliament Simranjit Singh Mann was taken into custody while moving towards the high-security area near the Governor’s residence, party leaders and police said. Traffic between Chandigarh and Mohali was severely affected for several hours as police blocked connecting routes and stationed heavy vehicles at strategic locations.
Administrative response and legal process for parole
Senior civil and police officials monitored the situation on the ground throughout the day. Authorities said a parole request for Hawara to meet his ailing mother has been routed through the prescribed administrative channels and is under consideration at the central level, but no final decision had been announced as of Saturday.
The agitation reflected continuing public interest and political mobilisation around cases linked to the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, for which Hawara is serving a life sentence. Leaders of the Qaumi Insaf Morcha told reporters that several protesters suffered injuries during the clash; police statements reported use of force only after demonstrators attempted to breach the security perimeter.
- Action taken: Water cannon and tear gas used to disperse marchers.
- Detention: Simranjit Singh Mann taken into custody near the Governor’s residence area.
- Transport impact: Significant disruption to Chandigarh–Mohali traffic as multiple routes were blocked.
| Event | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Security measures | Multiple barricades, heavy vehicles, senior officials on site |
| crowd tactics | Tractors used to push through barricades, attempt to advance |
| Aftermath | Protesters withdrew; no final parole decision announced |
Officials said the matter of parole for Hawara is being processed through the established administrative framework and will be decided at the central level. Observers noted that any decision could have wider political implications in Punjab and Chandigarh, where emotions around the 1995 assassination remain sensitive.
Local residents and commuters faced delays as several connecting roads between the two cities were closed temporarily. Authorities advised the public to use alternate routes and said normal movement would be restored once security assessments permitted.
Party organisers described the demonstration as lawful and said it was intended to press for the release of inmates who have completed their sentences and to seek humanitarian parole for Hawara. Police reiterated that action was taken only after the crowd attempted to break through the security cordon and to prevent access to a high-security zone that includes the Governor’s official residence.
The situation remained calm by evening, with security forces maintaining a visible presence at principal entry points into Chandigarh. No official toll of injured persons or details of any arrests beyond the detention of Mann were released by police up to the evening.
