Union Home Minister Amit Shah has questioned the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government's handling of law and order following the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa and a separate incident in Dirba. Shah said the Union Home Ministry would seek responses from the Punjab government on both incidents.
In a post on X on Friday, October 16, Shah referred to the alleged rise in drug-related activities, gangsterism and organised crime in Punjab. He questioned who would take responsibility for the safety of the state's residents and demanded answers from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
Referring to Jhota's killing, Shah said the murder had raised serious questions about the state's law and order situation. He also pointed to allegations made by Jhota's father against the AAP government and a party MLA.
“The people of Punjab do not want promises, they want answers; not announcements, but results,” Shah said in his post, calling for decisive action against drug networks and an impartial investigation into any alleged political protection extended to criminals.
Shah referred to the killing of Parvinder Singh Jhota, who had raised his voice against drug abuse and the alleged illegal sale of addictive medicines. Jhota was shot dead in a market in Mansa on October 13 following a confrontation with chemist Ashwani Kumar.
According to the details reported about the incident, Jhota and his associates had confronted Kumar over the alleged sale of addictive substances. During the confrontation, Kumar allegedly opened fire, leaving Jhota fatally injured. The incident was reportedly captured on video while Jhota was recording or broadcasting the confrontation on Facebook Live.
Police subsequently arrested Kumar in Salasar, Rajasthan, on October 14. His cousin, Vipin, was also reportedly arrested for allegedly helping him escape after the shooting.
The murder sparked protests in Mansa, with Jhota's supporters demanding strict action and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Shah also referred to allegations made by Jhota's father against the Punjab government and its MLA. These remain allegations and would require investigation to establish their veracity.
Apart from the Mansa murder, Shah referred to an incident in Dirba in which a father allegedly consumed poison under pressure. He cited the incident alongside Jhota's killing while questioning the Punjab government's responsibility for public safety.
Shah said the Home Ministry would seek responses from the Punjab government regarding both cases. He did not specify in his post what action the ministry would take after receiving the responses.
Shah accused the Punjab government of failing to adequately address concerns over drugs and organised crime. He called for action against drug networks, protection for young people and strict punishment for criminals.
He also demanded an impartial investigation into allegations of political patronage for criminals, without establishing that such protection had occurred in either case.
The Union Home Minister said the people of Punjab needed concrete results rather than announcements and assurances. He reiterated the BJP's pledge to work towards making Punjab drug-free, free from gangsterism and safer if the party forms the government in the state.
Jhota's murder has triggered a series of developments in Mansa. On October 14, district authorities demolished the front portion of Kumar's residence in Veer Nagar, citing unauthorised construction. The administrative action was separate from the murder investigation.
Separately, a mob attacked Kumar's medical shop near the main railway crossing in Mansa. Reports said the shop was vandalised, demolished and subsequently set on fire.
A joint action committee formed after Jhota's killing called for a Punjab Bandh on October 15 and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder.
Shah's statement has brought the case into the wider political debate over drugs, crime and law and order in Punjab. The Home Ministry's proposed response-seeking process is the latest development, while questions surrounding the murder and the allegations made by Jhota's family remain matters for investigation.
