M A I N   N E W S

Bandhs, marches in Punjab
From Tribune Reporters and agencies

CHANDIGARH, March 31 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAS) sponsored Punjab bandh today in protest against the massacre of 35 Sikhs at Anantnag district in south Kashmir evoked mixed response.

Shops and other business establishments remained closed in many towns as reports came in at police headquarters here.

However, government offices and educational institutions had no effect of the bandh call. The state transport also worked normally with no untoward incident reported so far from anywhere in the state, the police said.

The bandh evoked total response in Moga, Faridkot, Muktsar and Malout districts.

JALANDHAR: A near total bandh was observed on Friday in Jalandhar City and Goraya and Nurmahal towns of the district in protest against the massacre of 35 Sikhs in a south Kashmir village on the call given by the SHSAD.

Barring banks and government offices, which functioned normally, shops and business establishments remained closed at all markets of the old city and also the upmarket model town business centre in the city.

A report from Kapurthala said the erstwhile princely town also observed a complete and peaceful bandh.

AMRITSAR: There was a near total bandh in the holy city on Friday in protest against the massacre of 35 innocent Sikhs at Chatti Singhpora (Anantnag).

Mr Jasbir Singh Ghuman, general secretary, SHSAD, and Mr Harminder Singh Gill, president, All-India Sikh Students Federation, said all business establishments remained closed. Bandh was supported by the All-India Shiv Sena.

Some shops, which were open in the morning, were forced to down their shutters by the activists of the AISSF and SHSAD. Bhog of ‘akhand paths’ were also arranged in various parts of the city.

LUDHIANA: On a call given by the SHSAD, a complete bandh was observed in the city in protest against the killing of 35 Sikhs at Chatti Singhpora village in Jammu and Kashmir on March 20.

MALERKOTLA: A bandh was observed here on Friday in protest against the killing of 35 Sikhs at Chatti Singhpora village of Jammu and Kashmir. All business activity came to a halt.

PHAGWARA: The call for Punjab bandh given by the SHSAD in protest against the Chatti Singhpora carnage was ignored here on Friday. However, the local St. Joseph Convent School was closed.

ABOHAR: Bhog of Akhand Path was performed on Friday at Gurdwara Singh Sabha here. Senior leaders of the Beopar Mandal, SAD and BJP paid tributes to the victims.

FEROZEPORE: A majority of shopkeepers in the municipal area here on Friday observed strikes for two hours from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in protest against the killing.

UDHAMPUR: An ‘ardas’ was organised at gurdwara Tegh Bahadur Singh in the memory of those killed in the Chatti Singhpora carnage. People of different communities participated and urged the people to remain united.

PATIALA: The bandh call given by the SHSAD in protest against the killing of Sikhs in Chatti Singhpora evoked a mixed response here on Friday.

TARN TARAN: In protest against the Sikh massacre in Anantnag district the bandh call given by the SHSAD and the AISSF could evoke no response in the town.