Jalandhar, October 15, 2026: Traffic on the Jalandhar–Phagwara National Highway was affected on Thursday after farmers and other supporters of the Punjab Bandh gathered near Paragpur to demand justice in the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota.
Protesters assembled near the GT Road stretch of the highway as part of the statewide shutdown. For a period, movement of vehicles was disrupted and queues began forming on the busy route connecting Jalandhar with Phagwara and onward towards Ludhiana and Delhi.
The protest formed part of the wider Punjab Bandh called by Jhota’s family and supported by several farmer organisations, social groups and political parties. Demonstrators demanded a thorough investigation into his killing and action against anyone found responsible.
Police teams were deployed in strength around the Paragpur area to prevent a prolonged blockade of the national highway. Senior officers remained at the spot and held discussions with representatives of the protesting groups.
As the gathering continued, police moved protesters away from the main carriageway and towards the side of the highway so that vehicular movement could resume. Some protesters who refused to leave the road were taken away by police.
Traffic gradually began moving again after the intervention, although commuters faced delays around the protest location during the morning.
Farmer organisations had earlier announced plans to hold a demonstration on the Jalandhar–Phagwara stretch as part of the bandh. Emergency movement, including ambulances and people travelling for urgent circumstances, was expected to be kept outside the protest restrictions.
The impact of the bandh was also visible elsewhere in Jalandhar. A large number of shops and commercial establishments remained closed during the first part of the day, while many educational institutions also stayed shut.
Similar shutdowns and demonstrations were reported from several parts of Punjab as organisations expressed solidarity with Jhota’s family and pressed for a transparent investigation into the case.
Parvinder Singh Jhota, who had become known for raising his voice against the drug problem in Punjab, was killed in Mansa on October 13. His death triggered protests and demands for stronger action against those involved in the case.
Thursday’s agitation in Jalandhar remained under close police watch, with authorities focusing on maintaining public order while ensuring that the national highway remained accessible to traffic.
By later in the day, the main highway near Paragpur had been cleared for vehicles, though police deployment continued in the area amid the ongoing Punjab Bandh.
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