Chandigarh

Police used water cannons to disperse workers of the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De when they were forcing their way to head towards Chandigarh from Mohali to 'gherao' the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday.

A heavy police force was deployed at the Mohali-Chandigarh border to prevent Akali Dal Waris Punjab De workers from moving towards the Union Territory.

The Akali Dal Waris Punjab De had announced that it would march to the Punjab chief minister's residence to press for the release of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and 'Bandi Singhs' (Sikh prisoners).

A large number of protesters were carrying posters of Amritpal Singh and 'Bandi Singhs'.

Amritpal Singh's father Tarsem Singh was also among the protesters.

The protesters began their protest from Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali and then proceeded towards Mann's residence.

Despite police erecting barricades at the Mohali-Chandigarh border, several protesters managed to force their way and proceeded towards the chief minister's residence.

One of the protesters even climbed atop the water cannon vehicle of police.

The Akali Dal Waris Punjab De has been seeking release of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and 'Bandi Singhs'.

Amritpal Singh is currently lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail in the 2023 Ajnala Police Station attack case. Earlier, his detention under the National Security Act ended on April 22.

'Bandi Singhs' are those Sikh prisoners who were convicted for being involved in militancy during the Punjab insurgency in the 1990s.

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Several Sikh bodies claim that 'Bandi Singhs' are those Sikh prisoners who were in jails even after completion of their sentences.