Punjab Roadways Strike Turns Violent: Dhuri SHO Suffers Burns While Saving Employee From Self-Immolation

November 28, 2025

The Punjab Roadways employees’ strike today (November 28) caused widespread unrest across the state. In Sangrur, an employee attempted to set himself on fire by dousing himself with petrol. The Dhuri SHO suffered burns while trying to stop him. He has been hospitalized.

In Ludhiana, a roadways employee climbed onto a water tank at the bus stand. When asked to get down, he said, “It’s better to die like this than at the hands of the Punjab government.” He continued to shout slogans like “Down with the government.”

A large number of employees gathered under the tank, and when the police tried to remove them, a commotion broke out. The employees clashed with the police.

Meanwhile, in Budhlada, Mansa, three employees climbed a water tank with petrol bottles. They threatened to set it on fire if the government did not reverse its decision regarding the Kilometer Scheme tender.

Regarding the PRTC employees’ protest, Finance Minister Cheema said that the government is considering their demands. They should not take the law into their own hands. All issues will be resolved through discussion. It’s not possible to resolve a matter within 24 hours. They should exercise restraint and not take the law into their own hands.

Meanwhile, before the strike ended, clashes broke out between police and roadways employees in Patiala. Police detained several employees. Meanwhile, in Jalandhar, employees closed the bus stand and also blocked the entry of private buses.

Roadways Employees Union leaders Nachattar Singh and Vikramjit Singh said they are demanding the cancellation of the tender for buses under the kilometer scheme. This is their third protest in the last two months. Whenever they stage a sit-in, the government extends the tender date and does not cancel the tender later. The strike also demanded the release of union leaders.