A protest by contractual employees of Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) in Sangrur turned violent on Friday, November 28, 2025, when Station House Officer (SHO) Jasvir Singh was doused with petrol and set ablaze during a clash at the city bus stand.
The workers demanded the cancellation of the Kilometre Scheme tender, fearing job losses from privatisation, leading to over 25 arrests, disruption of more than 3,000 bus services statewide, and a case against ten persons under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for attempt to murder.
Police perspective highlights unlawful aggression, while employees claim police provocation; investigations probe premeditation as security tightens.
Escalation Over Kilometre Scheme Fears
The demonstration began peacefully as a sit-in atop buses but spiralled when police tried to clear the bus stand in Dhuri, Sangrur. Protestors hurled petrol bombs, igniting SHO Jasvir Singh’s uniform and causing critical burns; he received immediate treatment at a local hospital before transfer.
Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police Gurmail Singh Bhullar stated, “This was a cowardly attack on a uniformed officer performing duty; we will not tolerate violence during protests.” Employee union leaders, protesting contractual woes and leader detentions, argued the police action sparked the chaos, humanising their fight for stable jobs amid economic uncertainty.
Dr Karamjit Singh, Senior Medical Officer at Sangrur Civil Hospital, reported that SHO Jasvir Singh sustained 15% burn injuries to his face, hands, and back. Although the injuries are not life-threatening, Dr Singh described them as serious, noting that such patients are isolated from others to prevent infections.
Statewide Strike Background and Disruptions
This incident stems from a broader agitation against the Punjab government’s Kilometre Scheme, which outsources bus operations via tenders, threatening 10,000+ contractual jobs. Previous protests stayed non-violent, but Friday’s strike crippled services, stranding thousands and prompting passenger outrage.
Authorities arrested over 25, including union figures, and bolstered security to avert copycat unrest. Locals worry about transport paralysis, while workers highlight unpaid wages and insecure terms, underscoring rural Punjab’s employment struggles.
Investigation and Human Cost
Police filed the FIR naming ten suspects, vowing forensic analysis of how petrol entered the site. No deaths reported, but the SHO’s injuries spotlight risks for frontline officers.
The strike continues selectively, with talks stalled; Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar urged restraint, saying, “Demands are valid, but violence solves nothing.” This event exposes tensions between labour rights and public order in a state reliant on roadways.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Violence erodes the foundation of democratic protest, turning legitimate grievances into tragedies that harm everyone involved. The Logical Indian champions empathy for workers facing job insecurity while condemning attacks on police who uphold law.
True progress demands dialogue fostering harmony, kindness, and coexistence over chaos.
Ten people including the general secretary of the Punjab Roadways & PRTC workers union have been booked after a protest by contractual employees against the Kilometre Scheme turned violent in Sangrur.
— Gagandeep Singh (@Gagan4344) November 29, 2025
Dhuri SHO Jasvir Singh was injured after his uniform caught fire during the… pic.twitter.com/47FkJRn6Ma
