Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead in Mansa, while Bikramjit Singh killed in Batala
NEW DELHI: The ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Friday sought reports from the Punjab government on multiple recent incidents involving the deaths of men in cases linked in allegations to the state's drug problem.The details demanded were linked to the killing of anti-drug crusader Parwinder Singh alias Jhota in Mansa, the fatal attack on Bikramjit Singh in Gurdaspur and the reported suicide of Gulzar Singh, who had allegedly raised concerns over the availability of synthetic drugs.In one of the letters to Punjab chief secretary,MHA referred to the killing of Parwinder Singh on October 13 and described him as “reportedly a crusader against rampant sale and abuse of narcotics and psychotropic drugs in Punjab”.
The ministry noted that protests had taken place in the state following his killing and asked the state government to furnish a “comprehensive factual report” on the incident and the steps taken in the case.Jhota was known for his opposition to drug abuse and alleged drug peddling in Punjab.Read more: Punjab Bandh after activist Parminder Singh Jhota’s killing - Trucks on roadside, barricades on all roads to MansaThe ministry also sought details of action taken by the state government on the Union government's Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029), which Union home minister Amit Shah had shared with the Punjab chief minister on August 10, 2025.
The document outlines measures to advance the objective of a drug-free India, including setting up or restructuring a dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), mandatory financial investigations, outcome-oriented reviews under the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism, strengthening prosecution and courts dealing with cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, appointing nodal officers and acting against transnational drug networks.Meanwhile, in a second letter, the MHA sought a detailed report on the attack on Bikramjit Singh and two others, Nishan Singh and Gurmukh Singh, in Mari Panwan village in Gurdaspur district. Bikramjit died in the incident, while the other two were critically injured.According to local residents, Bikramjit and his companions had objected to alleged drug peddling in the village before they were attacked with sharp-edged weapons.
Residents alleged that the assault was linked to their opposition to drug-related activities and said fear of retaliation had discouraged people from reporting alleged drug peddling.Bikramjit’s relatives disputed the police account that the murder followed a scuffle between two groups over a mobile phone. Police have denied a drug-related motive and said an FIR had been registered, with an investigation underway to identify and arrest the accused.Read more: Another Punjab man killed after opposing drug sales; police cite phone disputeIn the third letter, the MHA sought a report on the reported suicide of Gulzar Singh on September 8. The letter described him as the father of a young person with substance dependence and said reports alleged that, before his death, he had questioned the availability of synthetic drugs in his area and levelled allegations against a Punjab government minister.
The letter further referred to allegations that Gulzar Singh had faced systematic harassment and pressure from the local village panchayat, which purportedly drove him to take his own life.
Citing public distress and potential law-and-order implications, the ministry asked the state government to submit a detailed report on the incident.The three letters, dated October 16, were addressed to the Punjab chief secretary and copied to the state's director general of police.Meanwhile, home minister Amit Shah, earlier in the day himself raised concerns over the drug-related crises in the state. "Punjab is grappling today with the rising threats of drugs, gangsterism, and organized crime. The biggest question before the Bhagwant Mann government is: ultimately, who will bear the responsibility for the safety of Punjab's people?" he had said, while adding that "Our goal is clear—strikes against the drug trade, protection of our youth's future, strict action against criminals, and a rule of law in which no citizen is forced to live under the shadow of fear.
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