Anger within the Valmiki community has reached a boiling point following the lathi-charge on sanitation workers in Barnala. Outraged by the incident, various Valmiki organizations have unanimously decided to call for a ‘Punjab Bandh’ (shutdown) today, i.e. July 27.
In light of this, several schools in Jalandhar have declared a holiday. Students at MGN School, Seth Hukam Chand School, Innocent Hearts School, and Shiv Jyoti School have received notifications regarding the closure; classes are now being conducted online instead.
What are the demands?
Representatives of the Valmiki community have appealed to the general public, business associations, social organizations, and various sections of society to unite in support of the shutdown and stand with them in their struggle. Markets, business establishments, and transport services may remain closed between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM. However, no specific association has yet officially confirmed its support for the shutdown.
It is worth noting that on July 22, the police lathi-charged sanitation workers who were protesting in Barnala. Following this, the Punjab government took action and suspended the Barnala DSP. Despite this, the Valmiki community’s anger has not subsided; they have now put forward two additional demands.
Two Main Demands of the Valmiki Community
Leaders of the Valmiki community state that there is deep resentment and anger across the entire community following the Barnala incident. The community has demanded a fair and transparent investigation into the matter from the Punjab government and the local administration.
Furthermore, they demand immediate and strict legal action against the police officers responsible for using force against unarmed protesters and insist that justice be delivered to the affected sanitation workers without delay.