Contractual workers of Punjab’s state-run bus services held protests on November 29, 2025, demanding the release of detained union leaders and cancellation of new tenders for the kilometre-based bus scheme. Sandeep Singh, Senior Vice President of the PUNBUS Contract Workers Union, said four leaders remain detained, including Kulwant Singh and Raminder Singh. He warned, "Until they are released, the kilometre-scheme tenders are cancelled, and contractual workers are regularised, our dharna and strike will continue." Strikes affected bus services in Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, and other areas for the second day. Workers claim the new bus tenders allow private operators to run on state routes, threatening thousands of livelihoods and aiming to dismantle the state transport system. Violence erupted in Sangrur where protesting employees climbed buses and splashed petrol on police attempting to remove them. The Dhuri Station House Officer suffered burn injuries during the incident. Protesters condemned police detentions and urged the government to release their leaders and meet their demands. Sarwan Singh Pandher from the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee supported the protests, criticizing the state government's policy. Commuters faced trouble as government buses stopped running. Women, who normally travel free on state buses, were forced to buy tickets from private operators due to the strike. The protests highlight deep anger over the condition of Punjab's state transport, which has lost over 500 buses in four years and struggles with funding for repairs and tyres.