Mon Dec 30 11:52:34 UTC 2024: ## Punjab Shuts Down in Support of Haryana-Punjab Border Protest

**Chandigarh, [Date]** – A complete shutdown of Punjab took place on Monday in solidarity with ongoing farmers’ protests at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana. The shutdown, observed from 7 AM to 4 PM, saw farmers staging demonstrations at approximately 140 locations, blocking highways and railway tracks.

The protests significantly disrupted transportation. Indian Railways cancelled 163 trains, including the Vande Bharat Express, due to the blockades. Passengers from various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Pune, Bihar, and Kolkata, were stranded at railway stations in Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Ludhiana. The Jhelum Express, traveling from Pune to Jammu Tawi, was halted at Jalandhar Cantt station. Many stranded passengers were forced to find hotel accommodation.

Road transport was also severely affected, with 576 bus routes connecting Punjab to eight other states remaining suspended. Buses from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and other states did not enter Punjab. Markets and petrol/gas stations were largely closed, although Ludhiana’s Chowda Bazaar remained open, leading to some confrontations between farmers and shopkeepers.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher stated that the shutdown was largely supported by trade associations, commission agents, organizations, and unions, and no coercion was used to force closures. However, reports indicate disputes between police, farmers, and shopkeepers occurred throughout the day. The protests highlight the farmers’ continued support for the ongoing border agitation.

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