Punjab Bandh Today: State Shut 6 AM to 5 PM Over Anti-Drug Activist Jhota's Murder, Buses Hit, Highway Blocked in Bathinda
Punjab is observing a statewide bandh today, Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 6 AM to 5 PM, to protest the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa. Markets and private educational institutions are shut in many places, buses are disrupted, and police have been deployed in force in Mansa, Amritsar and other districts.
Who called the bandh
According to NewsBytes, the call came from Jhota's father and has been backed by opposition parties, farmer groups and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). SGPC institutions are closed in solidarity. The BJP is leading protests across districts, the report said. Jhota was shot dead at a chemist shop in Mansa on Tuesday, October 14's previous day, October 13, per Asianet Newsable. The medical store owner accused of the shooting, Ashwani Kumar, has since been arrested in Rajasthan.
Demands
Protesters want justice for Jhota and a CBI investigation into the killing, and some leaders are demanding accountability from the state leadership, Sunday Guardian reported. Jhota's father has criticised the government for not protecting his son. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has promised tough action against everyone involved and asked police for a thorough investigation, NewsBytes said.
What is open and what is closed
- Exempt: Emergency services, including hospitals, medical stores, fire brigade and ambulances.
- Closed or affected: Markets in many areas and private educational institutions. Punjabi University, Patiala, announced a closure for the day. The Chandigarh District Bar Association is observing a "No Work Day."
- Government schools: They remain open, per Asianet Newsable.
- Banks: October 15 is not listed as a bank holiday in Punjab, and no blanket closure has been confirmed, but access to individual branches may be affected by roadblocks and local conditions.
- Government offices and petrol pumps: No statewide closure order has been confirmed, according to Sunday Guardian.
On the ground
- Bathinda: Private buses stayed off the roads at the bus stand, with only a few Punjab Roadways buses operating. Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta Sidhupur blocked the Bathinda-Chandigarh highway, according to Dainik Jagran English.
- Detentions: The same report says farmer leaders were detained in Bathinda and Faridkot.
- Amritsar: Heavy police deployment was reported.
- Mansa: News24 reports barricades, checks on commuters and loaded tipper trucks positioned along roads, with commuters facing delays.
Police were said to be ensuring that the protest stays peaceful.
Advice for travellers
These are general suggestions: check local updates before travelling, allow extra time on highways, and plan for limited bus services until the bandh ends at 5 PM. Emergency medical services are expected to function.
Background
Jhota was killed after allegedly confronting a medical shop owner over selling drugs to an elderly man, with the confrontation captured during a Facebook Live session, according to earlier reports. After the killing, his family refused to cremate the body in protest, and supporters vandalised the shop. The case has led to opposition criticism of the AAP government on law and order and to renewed attention on drug sales in Punjab.
Quick Facts
| Date and time | Thursday, October 15, 2026, 6 AM to 5 PM |
| Reason | Murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa |
| Called by | Jhota's father; backed by opposition parties, farmer groups and SGPC |
| Main demands | Justice and a CBI probe |
| Exempt | Hospitals, medical stores, fire brigade, ambulances |
| Closed or affected | Markets, private schools and colleges, Punjabi University (Patiala); Chandigarh bar "No Work Day" |
| Government schools | Open |
| Banks | Not an official holiday; branch access may be affected |
| Incidents | Highway blocked in Bathinda; farmer leaders detained in Bathinda and Faridkot |
| CM's response | Promised tough action and a thorough probe |
This is a developing story based on reports from Asianet Newsable, NewsBytes, Dainik Jagran English, News24 and Sunday Guardian as of October 15, 2026, and may be updated.