Chandigarh: Shops and markets remained shut while traffic movement was hit on the highways at many places in the state on Friday in the wake of a ‘Punjab Bandh’ call given by the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha to press for the release of ‘Bandi Singhs’.Heavy police deployment was made at many places across Punjab, including Amritsar, Ludhiana, Mohali and Jalandhar, to maintain law and order.The call for the bandh was from 7 am to 2 pm.Commuters, including office-goers and travellers, bore the brunt of the bandh call as they got caught up in road blockades by supporters of the Qaumi Insaf Morcha and various farmers’ bodies at several places, including Patiala, Mohali and Jalandhar.Commuters at some places were seen requesting the protesters to allow them to proceed towards their destinations as tractor-trolleys and other vehicles were parked in the middle of roads, including state and national highways, by the agitators.Essential services such as medical emergencies, travel to airports, exams and wedding ceremonies were allowed, the Morcha leaders said.Protesters staged dharnas in Jalandhar, Ludhiana’s Ladhowal, Hoshiarpur and Ferozepur to express their anguish over the non-release of Sikh prisoners. They also took out marches on two-wheelers in cities.Shops at several places, including Sangrur, Ludhiana and Mohali, remained shut.Private schools remained shut on Friday as the Federation of Private Schools announced a holiday in the wake of the bandh call.Chandigarh Police personnel, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), have been deputed along the barricades put up at the Mohali-Chandigarh border points.In Patiala, protesters led by Qaumi Insaf Morcha leader Gurcharan Singh parked vehicles on the road outside the main bus stand, effectively blocking traffic on both sides.The blockade severely affected the movement of buses operating from Patiala towards Bathinda, Ferozepur, Faridkot and other parts of the state.Buses coming out of the bus stand were also stopped, resulting in long queues of vehicles and stranded passengers.The Patiala bus stand is one of the city’s major transportation points, and its blockade had a direct impact on traffic movement in the city. With PTIMalwa almost comes to standstillAugust 21, 2026 1:30 pmBathinda: Markets, shops, several schools and public transport remained shut in various districts, with Muktsar, Bathinda, Barnala and Mansa witnessing an almost complete bandh. The shutdown was observed from 7 am to 2 pm, while a heavy police presence was maintained across the region. Read more: https://www.Jattvibe.com/news/bathinda/punjab-bandh-malwa-almost-comes-to-standstill/Nihang Sikhs force closure of shops in Ropar, Anandpur Sahib, Nangal; highways blockedAugust 21, 2026 1:23 pmRopar: The bandh initially evoked a limited response in the district, with most shops and commercial establishments opening as usual in the morning. Markets in Nangal, Anandpur Sahib and Ropar were functioning normally. Read more: https://www.Jattvibe.com/news/punjab/nihang-sikhs-force-closure-of-shops-in-ropar-anandpur-sahib-nangal-highways-blocked/Punjab bandh receives strong response in Phagwara; markets remain largely closedAugust 21, 2026 12:45 pmPhagwara: The Punjab bandh call received a strong response in Phagwara, with shops and commercial establishments in the main market areas remaining closed. Medical shops, however, remained open to ensure access to essential medicines. The overall situation remained peaceful, with no untoward incident reported. TNSFaridkot, Moga wear deserted look as Punjab bandh evokes near-total shutdownAugust 21, 2026 12:40 pmFaridkot/Moga: Commercial establishments across urban and rural belts of both districts remained shut, while vehicular movement on roads stayed exceptionally thin. Most fuel stations also remained shut in support of the bandh. Read more: https://www.Jattvibe.com/news/bathinda/faridkot-moga-wear-deserted-look-as-punjab-bandh-evokes-near-total-shutdown/Punjab bandh gets mixed response in Patiala districtAugust 21, 2026 12:25 pmPatiala: The Punjab bandh call given by the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha received a mixed response in Patiala district, with most shops and business establishments in major markets of Patiala city remaining closed, while some shops in interior residential areas remained open. Read more: https://www.Jattvibe.com/news/patiala/punjab-bandh-gets-mixed-response-in-patiala-district/Punjab bandh evokes strong response in Ferozepur; markets, private schools shutAugust 21, 2026 11:52 amFerozepur: From morning, shops in both the city and cantonment remained shut as most traders voluntarily observed the bandh. A few establishments, including some banks, which had opened in the morning were subsequently closed after protesters reached there. Protesters blocked Octroi No. 7, a key exit point from the city towards Zira and Ludhiana, disrupting traffic and raising slogans against the government. The blockade left commuters stranded and caused inconvenience to residents travelling towards Ludhiana and Zira. TNSAlmost complete bandh in Jalandhar; markets, educational institutes shut, highways blockedAugust 21, 2026 11:06 amJalandhar: Highways connecting Jalandhar with Amritsar, Ludhiana, Pathankot and Kapurthala remained blocked, with supporters of the Morcha sitting on the roads. All educational institutes remained shut. Most market associations announced that their establishments would remain shut till 2 pm, the scheduled end time for bandh call. Read more: https://www.Jattvibe.com/news/jalandhar/almost-complete-bandh-in-jalandhar-markets-educational-institutes-shut-highways-blocked/TNSMarkets shut, roads blocked as protest disrupts movementAugust 21, 2026 11:00 amChandigarh: Farmer unions have joined the protest and blocked the Azizpur and Dhareri Jattan Toll plazas, leaving commuters facing difficulties. In Mohali, protesters blocked the Airport Road, leading to traffic diversions. Cab services operating between Mohali and Chandigarh have been suspended till the afternoon. In Ludhiana, markets remained closed, with Chaura Bazar and Ghumar Mandi wearing a deserted look. In Patiala, protesters have blocked the roundabout outside the insterstate bus terminus and were seen engaged in a heated argument. In Sangrur, protesters gathered outside a store which was open. Following a heated argument, the store was subsequently closed. In Amritsar, members of the QIM and farmer unions are holding motorcycle rallies across the city, seeking public support and urging business establishments to shut. TNSPunjab bandh call results in significant financial benefit for online food delivery platformsAugust 21, 2026 10:58 amChandigarh: The Punjab bandh call has resulted in a significant financial benefit for online food delivery platforms. However, protest and the surge in orders also led to delay in services. TNSMixed response to Punjab bandh call in LudhianaAugust 21, 2026 10:28 amLudhiana: Traffic movement remained normal on National Highway 44 (Delhi Road), Chandigarh Road and Ferozepur Road, with no reports of disruptions from anywhere. Read more: https://www.Jattvibe.com/news/ludhiana/mixed-response-to-punjab-bandh-call-in-ludhiana/Road blockades, barricades, thin traffic; schools switch to online modeAugust 21, 2026 9:50 amMohali: The Punjab Bandh call given by Qaumi Insaaf Morcha received a good response in Mohali, with very less little traffic witnessed on roads during the morning rush hours. Most private schools switched to online classes, while government schools also reported low attendance. Read more: https://www.Jattvibe.com/news/top-headlines/punjab-bandh-road-blockades-barricades-thin-traffic-schools-switch-to-online-mode/QIM calls for Punjab bandh from 7 am to 2 pmAugust 21, 2026 9:19 amChandigarh: Businesses, transport, roads and rail services would remain suspended from 7 am to 2 pm, while essential services would be allowed to operate. Besides highways and railway tracks, activists would hold protests, dharnas and sit-ins at various locations across the city. Health services, hospital staff, medical facilities, ambulances, Army and security personnel, people attending weddings or bhog ceremonies and foreign travellers would not be stopped or inconvenienced during the bandh. TNSQIM ‘s demandsAugust 21, 2026 9:19 amChandigarh: The Morcha’s demands include the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences but continue to remain incarcerated. It has also sought parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara and raised demands concerning sacrilege and police-firing cases. The bandh call forwarded the QIM’s march towards the Punjab Governor’s residence in Chandigarh on August 15. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters after some of them attempted to breach barricades. The confrontation led to multiple FIRs being registered by the Chandigarh Police against its leaders and supporters. TNS