Bus strike in Punjab Highlights: Mass arrests, alleged police excesses lead to indefinite shutdown of govt bus services in Punjab, commuters to hit hard
People in Punjab may have to manage without government bus services for the next several days as employees have announced an indefinite suspension of operations.
According to the protesting employees, they have been facing severe mistreatment for the past eight years. They allege that the previous Congress government subjected them to five years of harassment, and the current government, elected on the promise of change, has continued similar actions over the past four years, leaving no stone unturned in using force against them.
Resham Singh Gill, Punjab president of the Transport Union, stated that Punjab Roadways and PRTC buses would remain off the roads indefinitely.
He further claimed that the Punjab Government today used excessive force against the employees and that around 250 to 300 workers have been arrested by the police.
Gill alleged that the government deliberately disrupted today’s peaceful protest. He emphasized that the strike will continue until the government withdraws the new tender scheme. The union is also demanding the immediate release of all arrested employees.
In Tarn Taran, the police have detained two leaders of the Punjab Roadways PRTC Contract Workers’ Union, while two others have been placed under house arrest. Meanwhile, striking Panbus employees staged a protest at the bus stand, where they continued their sit-in demonstration. The protesting workers are opposing the kilometre scheme and are demanding that the tenders issued under the scheme be cancelled.
A clash broke out between PUNBUS employees protesting for their demands and the police. Some protesters attempted to set themselves on fire by pouring petrol. The police carried out a lathi-charge to control the situation. Tension escalated at the spot, and several employees were taken into custody.
The protest by Roadways employees has intensified in Bathinda as well. Some employees climbed onto a water tank carrying bottles of petrol. A heavy police force has been deployed at the location.
At the Kapurthala bus stand, Roadways employees attempted self-immolation by pouring petrol on themselves. Police forces have been deployed at the spot.
In Sangrur, an employee attempted to set himself on fire by pouring petrol on his body. While trying to stop him, the SHO of Dhuri sustained burn injuries. He has been admitted to the hospital for treatment.
A scuffle also broke out inside the Ludhiana bus stand between a police personnel and PRTC Punjab Bus staff
Tension escalated in Sangrur as a scuffle broke out between police personnel and PRTC employees during the ongoing transport workers’ protest.
Protesting employees, who had climbed onto buses carrying bottles of petrol since morning, allegedly attempted to set a vehicle on fire. In the chaos, media personnel present at the scene were also pushed and manhandled.
During the scuffle, some petrol that the protesters had poured on themselves also splashed onto police personnel standing nearby, creating a dangerous situation. Police officers quickly intervened, and an attempt to ignite the fire was brought under control with the help of a fire extinguisher.
PTC Web Desk: Public transport services across Punjab were thrown into chaos on Friday after contractual employees of Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) launched an indefinite strike. The protest erupted hours after the police allegedly detained several union leaders in late-night and early-morning raids, triggering widespread anger among transport workers.
The strike coincides with the opening of tenders under the controversial kilometre scheme, which the unions have opposed for years. The scheme’s tenders were scheduled to be opened on Friday, just hours after the detentions took place.
Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders strongly condemned the police action, calling it an attack on democratic rights. They said the government should have engaged in dialogue instead of making arrests on the eve of a critical protest.
Transport paralysed; commuters face severe hardship
The halt in operations left thousands of passengers stranded across districts, with many forced to rely on private buses. Daily commuters between Patiala, Mohali, Chandigarh and Zirakpur said reaching their destinations was a struggle.
Workers closed the main gate of the Patiala bus stand while shouting slogans against the police and the government.
In Ludhiana, a protesting employee climbed onto a water tank at the bus stand. When officials asked him to come down, he reportedly said, “Better to die here than at the hands of the Punjab government,” while shouting slogans against the authorities.
In Jalandhar, employees locked down the bus stand entirely, blocking even private buses. Government buses remained parked inside depots.
Why workers oppose the scheme
Transport unions have long opposed the kilometre scheme, alleging it promotes corruption and allows private operators to run buses on state-notified routes. According to union leaders, this is a “backdoor entry” for private players and will weaken the state-run transport system, cause large-scale job losses, increase unemployment, push up travel costs for ordinary passengers and burden the public with unreliable services.
Union leaders Nachhattar Singh and Vikramjit Singh said this was their third protest in two months. They alleged that each time they hold a sit-in, the government merely extends the tender date instead of cancelling the scheme. This time, they declared the strike would remain indefinite.
Roadways union leaders alleged that the police detained several leaders between 3 am and 4 am. Those not found at home allegedly had their houses searched even in the presence of children, which they called “totally unacceptable.”
They said buses stationed inside stands would not move, and those outside would stay outside. The strike would continue until all detained leaders are released, they added.
- PTC NEWS
