Punjab shuts down over Jhotta murder, toll collection suspended

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Toll plazas allow free passage as political parties, educational institutions and employee groups join protest

Patiala: Toll plaza workers across Punjab suspended toll collection from 6 am to 5 pm on Thursday in support of a statewide bandh called by the family of Parvinder Singh Jhotta and a committee seeking justice for him following his murder in Mansa.

The Dharedi Jattan toll plaza in Patiala allowed commuters to pass without paying toll charges during the protest.

Gurpreet Singh Gaggi, president of the Dharedi Jattan toll plaza, said workers had extended support to the shutdown and demanded justice for Jhotta and his family. He also called for the resignation of the Chief Minister.

The bandh call followed the arrest of a suspect, Ashwani, by the Mansa police in connection with the murder. However, the arrest failed to satisfy the victim’s family and the committee, which continued to demand justice and called for a statewide shutdown from 6 am to 5 pm.

Several political parties, educational institutions, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and employee organisations backed the call. In Patiala, lawyers and private bus operators also joined the protest, while markets across the city remained largely quiet.

The suspension of toll collection emerged as one of the key measures of the protest, allowing commuters to travel through participating toll plazas without paying during the designated hours.