Punjab: Protest march for release of Sikh prisoners met with water cannons, tear gas
Punjab: Protest march for release of Sikh prisoners met with water cannons, tear gas
M.U.H
15/08/202618
Punjab’s Qaumi Insaf Morcha on Saturday faced a heavy police response as its protesters attempted to march towards the Governor’s residence in Chandigarh to press for the release of Sikh prisoners. As demonstrators tried to breach and bring down police barricades at the Mohali-Chandigarh border, security personnel used water cannons and tear gas shells in large quantities, leading to a tense confrontation between the two sides.
The Morcha, which has been maintaining a protest site along the Sector 52-53 Chandigarh-YPS Chowk stretch since January 7, 2023, had called for the march from YPS Chowk to the Governor’s House.
A large contingent of Chandigarh Police, along with paramilitary personnel, was deployed along the route to prevent the protesters from entering Chandigarh.
The situation escalated when members of the protesting group attempted to cross the barricades.
Police responded with water cannons and tear gas to push the demonstrators back.
The protesters, in turn, resisted the police action and resorted to stone-pelting, turning the standoff increasingly tense and violent. Security personnel maintained the barricades as the confrontation continued.
The Morcha is seeking the release of several ‘Bandi Singhs’, claiming that some Sikh prisoners continue to remain incarcerated despite completing their sentences.
The protesters are also demanding justice in connection with the 2015 sacrilege and police-firing incidents in Faridkot.
Ahead of the march, a video purportedly showing jailed Sikh prisoner Jagtar Singh Hawara surfaced in which he appealed for the programme to remain peaceful.
"I especially appeal to Sikh youth that they should act as Morcha volunteers and see to it that the programme proceeds smoothly and peacefully," Hawara said, urging the community to remain alert to attempts to create disturbances.
A video from Saturday’s protests showed Hawara seated inside the prison with other men, speaking to the camera.
Hawara is serving a life sentence in the case relating to the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. His parole has recently emerged as a politically sensitive issue.
In February 2026, the Punjab Jail Department had forwarded his parole case to Tihar authorities with an “unfavourable” recommendation, citing 25 criminal cases and adverse police reports.
Months later, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann sought 10-day parole for Hawara on humanitarian grounds, citing his ailing mother.
The latest confrontation is likely to intensify pressure on the Punjab government and authorities over the long-pending demand for the release of Sikh prisoners. The Morcha is expected to continue its agitation while authorities are likely to maintain heightened security around Chandigarh.
