Protests against the proposed hanging of Balwant Singh Rajoana sentenced to death for killing former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh have put entire Punjab on a high alert. Radical Sikhs outfits Dal Khalsa and Khalsa Action Committee have asked the people to observe a 'bandh' on Wednesday. Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal is also likely to meet President Pratibha Patil in Delhi today in this regard. Referring to today's bandh, the two Sikh groups said "we appeal to a cross section of Punjabi society to close their business establishments, schools, colleges and shops to protest against the hanging that has been fixed for March 31.

Prohibitory orders were clamped and police and paramilitary forces personnel conducted flag marches in parts of Punjab which was on high alert ahead of the proposed Punjab Bandh on Wednesday. Security forces conducted flag march in the state for the third day on Tuesday including in Moga, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ludhiana to instill a sense of confidence among the residents.

Activists of some Sikh organisations took out a protest march at some places today and raised slogans in favour of Rajoana and demanded clemency for him. Security around the Central Jail at Patiala, where Rajoana is lodged, has been beefed up by erecting additional security check points and restricting the entry of those going towards the prison side. Official sources said that only persons with bonafide work are being allowed to proceed towards the Central Jail. Rajoana, as per a court order, will be hanged on March 31 at Central Jail Patiala. The SAD-BJP government and the Congress in the state have demanded grant of clemency to Rajoana.

Punjab's DGP Sumedh Singh Saini has directed the district police chiefs to take all preventive and necessary steps to maintain peace. Police have set up special control rooms to monitor the security situation. Extra forces have been deployed around sensitive installations. A few companies of paramilitary forces and of the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) have been deployed at Amritsar, Patiala, Batala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and other places. The All India Sikh Students Federation said it will extend its full support to the Punjab Bandh. Trade and industry bodies have appealed to the Punjab government to ensure peace in the state in the wake of various Sikh organisations giving a bandh call in view of the possible execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana.