A statewide strike by contractual transport employees in Punjab descended into violence on Friday when a police officer was doused with petrol and set ablaze during protests in Sangrur. The incident has escalated tensions in the ongoing dispute between transport workers and the state government.
Violence Erupts During Peaceful Protest
The situation turned critical when Inspector Jasvir Singh, the Station House Officer of Sangrur, was splashed with petrol by protesters and subsequently engulfed in flames. Disturbing videos from the scene show the officer desperately trying to remove his burning uniform while fellow police officers used their jackets to smother the flames.
Sangrur SSP Sartaj Singh Chahal confirmed that the injured officer suffered burns on his neck, arms, hands, and back. "He is at high risk of infection and has been isolated while undergoing treatment," Chahal stated. The police have detained over 20 individuals and are registering cases against those responsible for the petrol attack.
Statewide Transport Chaos
The strike has brought public transportation across Punjab to a virtual standstill. Over 3,000 buses belonging to Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) remained off the roads, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. Major bus depots in cities including Patiala, Sangrur, Ludhiana, and Bathinda witnessed chaotic scenes as passengers scrambled to find alternative transportation.
Union representatives have called this a snap strike in response to what they term as 'backdoor privatization' of the transport system. The workers are protesting the government's plan to expand the Kilometre Scheme, which they claim threatens existing jobs and blocks the regularization of nearly 8,000 contractual employees.
Root Cause: The Kilometre Scheme Dispute
At the heart of the conflict lies the Kilometre Scheme, introduced in 1998. Under this arrangement, private operators supply buses and drivers while PRTC pays a fixed rate per kilometer—currently between Rs 8.58 and Rs 9.30. The corporation covers fuel costs and provides conductors.
With PRTC facing financial constraints and operating an aging fleet, the corporation plans to induct 219 buses in phases under the scheme and has issued tenders for 200 additional buses to be opened on December 2. Union leaders argue this amounts to privatization through the backdoor and demand complete withdrawal of the scheme.
Union representative Harkesh Kumar Vicky declared, "We will not call off the strike until the government accepts our demands and releases our detained leaders." The workers are also demanding reinstatement of detained colleagues and immediate dialogue with the government.
Police Action and Escalating Tensions
Union leaders have alleged a statewide crackdown ahead of the strike, claiming that several senior leaders and workers were detained from their homes on Thursday night. Scuffles broke out in both Sangrur and Patiala as police attempted to break up demonstrations.
In Patiala, SSP Varun Sharma reported that approximately 50 protesters were detained. Some protesters have accused police of removing turbans and tearing clothing during the confrontations, further inflaming sentiments on both sides.
Additional police forces have been deployed at sensitive locations across Punjab to prevent further escalation. Meanwhile, attempts to contact PRTC Chairman Ranjodh Singh Hadana were unsuccessful, and no official statement has been issued by the state transport department regarding the crisis.
With the strike expected to continue and no resolution in sight, uncertainty looms over when normal bus services will resume across Punjab, leaving daily commuters and the transport system in a state of limbo.
