Amid a few incidents of clashes in different parts of Punjab, the ‘Bharat Bandh’ call against caste-based reservation in education and jobs witnessed a mixed response.

Besides, the impact of ‘Bharat Bandh’ remained invisible in Mohali, Ludhiana and Jalandhar, the parts of border districts like Bathinda, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran were affected by the ‘Bandh’, according to the police sources.

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There were reports of clash in Ferozepur districts between two different groups. During the clash, one person was injured and admitted to the civil hospital later. There was a group of about 50 to 60 motorcycles who were marching for the closure as per the call, said the police.

The police said despite the shops remained closed for few hours at some places in various districts, but the business remained usual in the state as traders opened their shops and vehicles were plying on the roads. The government and private offices and schools also functioned without any hindrance.

Earlier, there was a bandh call on 2 April, by Dalit outfits against the dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in its advisory said, “MHA has advised the states to beef up security and make appropriate arrangements to prevent any untoward incident, including issues of prohibitory orders, if necessary. It has asked for intensification of patrolling in all sensitive locations so as to prevent any loss of life or damage to property.