Punjab Bandh: Markets, Schools Shut Over Jhota Killing; SHO Suspendedਪੰਜਾਬ ਬੰਦ: ਝੋਟਾ ਕਤਲ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਬਾਜ਼ਾਰ, ਸਕੂਲ ਬੰਦ; ਐੱਸਐੱਚਓ ਮੁਅੱਤਲ

Markets, private schools and highways across Punjab were hit on Thursday, October 15, 2026, as a statewide bandh over the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota shut down life from 6 am to 5 pm, according to The Hindu, The Tribune, Times of India and The Statesman.

Police meanwhile suspended Mansa City-2 SHO Beant Kaur, recommended departmental action against a DSP and detained the wife of the main accused, reports said.

How did the bandh play out?

Shops and markets stayed shut in Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Sangrur, Barnala, Moga, Patiala and Mansa, The Tribune reported. Private schools closed in several districts and some shifted to online classes. Protesters blocked the Bathinda-Mansa road, a toll plaza in Patiala was made toll-free, and commuters were stranded at blocked intersections in Mohali.

What happened in Amritsar and Jalandhar?

In Amritsar, farmers led by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at Golden Gate despite heavy rain and demanded the government's dismissal. In Jalandhar, The Tribune described a near-total shutdown, though police detained farmers and activists to stop highway blockades. Farmer leaders were also detained in Bathinda and Faridkot.

What action did police take?

The Statesman reported that the SHO was suspended, departmental action was recommended against a DSP, and the wife of the prime accused was detained. The accused, medical store owner Ashwani Kumar, was earlier arrested in Rajasthan, according to reports.

What do protesters and the family demand?

Jhota's father, Bhim Singh, has sought a CBI probe, and the Statesman reported the family refused to accept the body. Opposition parties, farmer unions and traders backed the bandh. The Chief Minister has promised the strictest punishment for those involved.

Were emergency services affected?

Emergency services were exempted from the bandh. Banks were not officially closed, according to Economic Times.

What happens next?

The family's demand for a CBI probe and the unclaimed body remain open. Further official steps had not been announced at the time of writing.

Why was the bandh called?

Jhota was shot dead in Mansa on October 13 while livestreaming a confrontation over the alleged sale of addictive drugs. His family and farmer groups called the shutdown to demand justice.