Punjab Employees’ March to CM Residence Halted; Water Cannons, Cane Charge Used in Mohali

Punjab News Express

Jun 1, 2026 - 11:44

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MOHALI: High drama unfolded at the Mohali-Chandigarh border on Sunday when Chandigarh Police used water cannons and resorted to cane charge to disperse protesting Punjab government employees marching towards the official residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Hundreds of employees from various departments had assembled earlier in the day near Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Phase 8, Mohali, under the banner of the “Purane Scale, Purani Pension ate Bhatte Bahali Morcha.” After holding a protest rally, the employees began a march towards the Chief Minister’s residence in Chandigarh to press for their long-pending demands.

The protesters were demanding implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears, restoration of old pay scales and regularisation of contractual employees. They accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to fulfil promises made by Bhagwant Mann before the Assembly elections.

As the marchers approached the Mohali-Chandigarh border, heavy police deployment was already in place with multiple barricades erected to prevent them from entering Chandigarh. Tension escalated when protesters attempted to move past the barricades and continued marching towards the Chief Minister’s residence.

Police personnel then used water cannons and mild force to disperse the crowd, leading to chaos at the protest site. Several protesters alleged that they were manhandled during the police action. According to employee leaders, at least nine protesters, including a woman employee, sustained injuries during the clash and some were shifted to the Civil Hospital in Phase 6 for treatment.

Eyewitnesses said the protesters raised slogans against the Punjab government and accused it of suppressing democratic protests instead of addressing employees’ grievances. Many protesters alleged that turbans of some Sikh employees were dislodged during the scuffle and water cannon action.

Employee leaders said the Mann government had promised implementation of the Old Pension Scheme and settlement of pending allowances but had failed to honour those commitments after coming to power. Protesters also expressed resentment over the delay in release of DA arrears despite repeated assurances and court interventions on the issue.

Leaders of the protesting organisations warned that the agitation would be intensified in the coming days if the government continued to ignore their demands. They said employees from several departments, including teachers and power department staff, had joined the protest in large numbers.

The protest caused heavy traffic congestion in parts of Mohali and at entry points to Chandigarh as police diverted traffic and sealed several routes leading towards the Chief Minister’s residence.

The latest confrontation is part of a series of protests witnessed in recent months near the Chandigarh-Mohali border, where teachers, ASHA workers, farmers and other employee unions have repeatedly faced police action while attempting to march towards Chandigarh to press for their demands.