2 min readLudhianaUpdated: Mar 1, 2026 10:59 AM IST
The Punjab Police late Saturday released all the 17 arrested union leaders who were arrested two days ago for allegedly protesting against the transfer of land belonging to the Cooperative Sugar Mill at Sheron in Tarn Taran district.
Welcoming them outside Goindwal jail, union leaders of PSEB Employees Federation and SKM said that they will soon decide on the next plan of action. Although the next date of hearing before the SDM court was March 3, a breakthrough came after representatives of the PSEB Employees Federation and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) met Punjab Transport Minister and Tarn Taran MLA Laljit Bhullar on Friday evening.
This comes even as the Punjab and Haryana High Court has continued its stay on the sale of properties belonging to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) till March 13.
Surinder Pal Singh Lahoria, general secretary of PSEB Employees Federation (AITUC), said, “Bail orders were issued by the SDM court Saturday afternoon. Earlier, all arrested persons were to be produced before the SDM court on March 3, but because of our meeting with the Tarn Taran MLA, it was done on Saturday itself.”
Gurpreet Singh Mehdoodan, Circle President, PSEB Employees Federation (AITUC), said, “On one hand, the HC is giving a stay on the sale of PSPCL properties, and on the other hand, the Punjab government is arresting people when they protest against the sale of land belonging to other government departments. The issue is the same, but the approach is different.”
SKM leaders alleged that the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government, burdened by debt, is attempting to survive by selling public-sector assets, including cooperative sugar mills and power sector land, to fulfil election promises such as providing Rs 1,000 monthly to women.
Reiterating the unions’ stand, Lahoria said, “Though all have been released, however, we will not sit quietly on this issue. The government cannot snub the voice of the masses. We demand that the sale of all government land be stopped altogether. As of now, the stay is only on PSPCL properties. This incident cannot be taken lightly.”
