Protesters in Chandigarh climbed onto and hijacked a police water-cannon vehicle during a demonstration on July 29, 2024 [1].

The incident highlights escalating tensions between Sikh activist groups and Indian security forces over the detention of political figures. The clash occurred as demonstrators sought to pressure the government into releasing jailed prisoners.

Members of the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De organized the protest to demand the release of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and other Sikh prisoners, known as the Bandi Singhs [1, 2]. The group marched toward the residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, leading to confrontations with security personnel [2].

Police deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd as the situation intensified near the Chandigarh-Mohali border area [1, 3]. During the operation, protesters managed to scale the police vehicle, creating scenes as they took control of the water-cannon machinery [1, 3].

The demonstration was part of a broader campaign by the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De to advocate for the freedom of those they describe as political prisoners [2]. Security forces worked to regain control of the vehicle and clear the streets of the capital city.

Authorities in Chandigarh have not released a final count of arrests resulting from the clash, but the event underscored the volatility of the regional political climate [1].

“Protesters climbed onto and hijacked a police water-cannon vehicle”

The hijacking of a police vehicle by political protesters indicates a shift toward more aggressive direct-action tactics by the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De. By targeting the residence of the Chief Minister and neutralizing police crowd-control equipment, the group is signaling a refusal to adhere to standard protest boundaries in their effort to secure the release of Amritpal Singh.