The police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters associated with the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha in Chandigarh on August 15. The demonstrators aimed to march towards the residence of the Punjab Governor, Gulab Chand Kataria, to demand the release of Sikh prisoners, including Jagtar Singh Hawara. Hawara is currently serving a life sentence for the assassination of the former Punjab Chief Minister, Beant Singh, in 1995.

Some protesters attempted to dismantle barricades and barbed wire blocking their path, with a few using a tractor in their efforts. The police’s enforcement drew widespread attention and heightened tensions during this significant day, which also marks India’s Independence Day.

Statements from Protest Leaders

During the protest, Bapu Gurcharan Singh, the father of Jagtar Singh Hawara, spoke to the media, claiming that peaceful protest is a fundamental right in a democracy. He accused the government of obstructing their demonstration and maintaining that their actions have been strictly non-violent. He emphasised their presence at the protest site for over three years, stating their intent on keeping the march peaceful and orderly.

Singh mentioned their principal demand was the release of detained Sikhs and expressed concern for one of them who was seeking parole to visit his critically ill mother. He asserted that their planned march was intended to be peaceful but claimed that excessive barricading by police was escalating tensions in the area.

Police Response and Injuries

Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police, Kanwardeep Kaur, stated that the police had repeatedly urged protesters to conduct their demonstration peacefully. However, she alleged that certain demonstrators tried to breach the barricades and engaged in aggressive behaviour towards police personnel. Kaur noted that the police resorted to non-lethal methods, such as water cannons and tear gas, to manage the situation.

Injuries were reported among police personnel during the confrontation, prompting the police to detain some protesters. The police indicated that legal processes were being initiated in relation to the incident, highlighting the escalating situation that arose from the protesters’ attempts to breach security measures.

Furthermore, some demonstrators reportedly resorted to stone pelting against police officials. The authorities revealed that a number of injured personnel were treated in hospital, and further details regarding injuries and detentions would be made available following the incident.

Chief Minister’s Engagement with the Governor

Earlier in the week, on August 12, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had a meeting with the Governor to discuss the possibility of a ten-day parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara on compassionate grounds. This request was motivated by the serious health condition of Hawara’s mother, who has not seen him for over three decades.

After the meeting, Chief Minister Mann elaborated on the recommendation, underscoring the urgency of the situation and the emotional ties involved. He expressed hope that the parole could be granted to allow Hawara to reunite with his ailing mother during a critical time in her health.

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