Protests erupted across Punjab as major farmer unions, including the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), joined the statewide Punjab Bandh to protest the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa. Demonstrators staged 'arthi dahan' effigy burnings of the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government, accusing state authorities and police of failing to curb the drug menace and protect anti-drug campaigners.