Massive traffic disruptions hit Chandigarh’s Sector 32 on Monday as Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal appeared before a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the 2015 Behbal Kalan police firing case. The appearance took place at the Punjab Police Officers’ Institute (PPOI), leading to heavy police deployment and strict traffic restrictions on roads leading to the venue.
According to The Tribune, the traffic curbs left commuters stranded for hours. Residents living in the area, local shopkeepers, and parents arriving to pick up their children from nearby schools all faced significant inconvenience.
Schools near PPOI adjust schedules due to traffic curbs
The area around the PPOI houses three schools and a college. Anticipating the disruptions, GGDSD College and PML SD Public School declared a holiday. Other institutions, including Government Model Senior Secondary School, St Anne’s School, and Saupin’s School, made limited adjustments to their schedules to cope with the situation.
Parents who came to pick up their children faced long delays as vehicles were not allowed near the schools. Many had to park far away and walk, adding to the chaos during peak hours.
Heavy police deployment in Sector 32
Police personnel were deployed in large numbers across Sector 32 to manage the crowd and ensure security during Badal’s appearance. Roads leading to the PPOI were barricaded, and only authorized vehicles were allowed entry. This caused traffic jams on surrounding roads, affecting not just local residents but also those passing through the area.
As reported by Hindustan Times, Sukhbir Badal joined the SIT probe in connection with the 2015 sacrilege and police firing cases. The SIT is investigating the Behbal Kalan police firing incident, which took place during protests over the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib.
Our Take: Poor planning left ordinary citizens paying the price
While security arrangements for a political leader’s court appearance are necessary, the complete lack of consideration for ordinary citizens is hard to ignore. Commuters, parents, and schoolchildren bore the brunt of these traffic curbs with little to no advance warning. Schools had to scramble to declare holidays or adjust timings at the last minute.
In our view, authorities should have issued public advisories well in advance, set up alternative routes, and coordinated with schools to minimize disruption. A political leader’s legal obligations should not come at the cost of daily life for thousands of people. Better planning could have prevented this chaos.