Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The city witnessed an unprecedented security buildup on Wednesday with the UT police mobilising nearly 3,000 personnel ahead of two major demonstrations scheduled to take place simultaneously — a large gathering by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and a bandh called by Panjab University students demanding the issuance of the Senate election notification.
Anticipating heavy turnout and significant pressure on traffic, the administration cordoned off several high-movement corridors and announced detours across key routes. Police teams were instructed to take positions from early morning to manage the expected inflow of vehicles, particularly from Mohali.
The SKM event, marking five years since the farmers’ “Delhi Chalo” march in 2020, is expected to draw over 10,000 participants to the Sector-43 Dussehra Ground. Authorities said the volume of farmers arriving, many in convoys and tractors, would likely cause congestion on connecting roads unless managed proactively.
Meanwhile, student groups at Panjab University prepared for a campus-wide shutdown to press their long-standing demand for Senate election notification. Officers monitoring the situation said simultaneous demonstrations posed a logistical challenge, requiring careful coordination between traffic control units, reserve forces and local police posts.
By mid-day, security officials reported smooth movement in most areas, attributing it to early deployment and continuous ground monitoring. They assured residents that measures would remain in place throughout the day to ensure peace and prevent overcrowding at protest points.
