Amritsar: Members of various community organisations blocked the Bhandari Bridge in Amritsar on Friday to protest the alleged insult to Dr BR Ambedkar’s statue in Ludhiana.
The protesters sat on the road for around an hour and raised slogans including “Valmiki Shakti Amar Rahe” and “Punjab Sarkar Murdabad”. A Punjab government effigy was also burnt during the protest.
The blockade was initially scheduled from 10am to 1pm, but began around 11am and the bridge was reopened after about an hour. Emergency services were allowed to continue, although regular traffic was affected.
The protest followed an emergency meeting at the Central Valmiki Temple on Thursday, where various organisations decided to withdraw their call for a complete Amritsar bandh. Representatives said repeated shutdowns were causing significant losses to traders and that their interests should be taken into consideration.
Traffic affected
Police put up barricades ahead of Bhandari Bridge to divert traffic and prevent congestion. A disagreement between police personnel was also witnessed over the barricading, with an ASI saying the arrangement had been ordered by the ADCP, while PCR personnel reportedly called for the barricades to be removed.
Bhandari Bridge is one of Amritsar’s key traffic corridors, connecting the old and new parts of the city. Its closure can put additional pressure on roads around Hall Gate, Hall Bazaar, Rambagh, the railway station, Crystal Chowk and Cooper Road.
Commuters were advised to use alternative routes, including Rigo Bridge, Lohgarh Chowk, Tank Chowk, the new bridge near Khalsa College and other connecting roads.
The bridge’s closure can also increase traffic pressure on these alternative routes, particularly during peak hours.
