CHANDIGARH:A two-day bandh in Punjab on Monday and Tuesday to protect against the assassination of militant leader Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala was a big success, The call for the bandh was issued by several militant groups and was sup- ported by Akali Dal (Mann). Itis admitted at all lands in the state that the bandh was a near-total in Faridkot. Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Sangrur and Ropar districts while it was partial in other areas. More people responded to the call in Ludhiana city on the second day than the first day. Except for  government offices and railways, no other segment of society ignored the bandh call, The response in smaller towns was greater than in big towns, according to reports, Educational institutions, banks and other state and central government undertakings also remained closed in Amritsar.

Writing in The Tribune, its editor V.N. Narayanan mocked at the bandh call saying that every militant backed bandh in Punjab is assured of success to the stent of 50%. He, however, claimed that the fear element this time in Punjab’s towns was less than on earlier occasions.

Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 14, 1992