Protestors Clash With Police During Chandigarh March

Tensions escalated at the Chandigarh-Mohali border on Saturday as members of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha attempted to march toward Chandigarh to demand the release of Sikh prisoners. Police used water cannons and tear gas to stop the protesters after they broke through two layers of barricades. During the confrontation, some protesters threw stones at police personnel, while others were seen carrying swords, leading to injuries among several security officers who are now undergoing medical examinations.

Security Measures and Police Response

Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwardeep Kaur stated that the police attempted to manage the situation using minimal force to prevent serious injuries. Authorities had previously held talks with the organizers, offering them an alternative location for their protest, but the group did not secure the necessary permissions for the march. Following the incident, security has been significantly increased at the border, and local traffic movement remains affected due to the heavy deployment of police forces and barricading.

Demands of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha

Representatives of the movement, including Bapu Gurcharan Singh, maintained that their protest is intended to be democratic and peaceful. The primary demand remains the release of Sikh prisoners, along with a request for a 10-day parole for a specific inmate to visit an ailing family member. Despite these stated intentions, the administration has warned against breaching security perimeters, emphasizing that maintaining law and order remains their top priority in the region.