Chandigarh: Putting people to inconvenience and even causing suffering by blocking rail tracks and roads in Punjab could now have a legal complication for protesters. The state government has approved a bill under which blockade of rail and road traffic would attract punishment of up to one year in jail and even a penalty of Rs.100,000.

While the Parkash Singh Badal government may be trying to contain growing incidents of lawlessness in the state in recent times, the opposition Congress is aghast at the "draconian and anti-people legislation" to put curbs on protests and demonstrations.