Shah meets families of anti-drug activists killed in Punjab; targets AAP

Amit Shah’s Punjab visit focused on families of men who allegedly died after opposing drug peddlers. He met Bikramjit Singh’s family in Gurdaspur, Gulzar Singh’s family in Sangrur, and Parvinder Singh Jhota’s family in Mansa. He offered condolences and attacked the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government over the drug trade.

Shah said Punjab’s expanding drug network and emboldened traffickers raised serious questions about the government’s functioning. He argued that young people were falling into drug use while people speaking against it were unsafe. Gulzar Singh had publicly questioned a minister about synthetic drugs before his suicide. Jhota was shot inside a medical store after challenging alleged drug sales.

The visit came during a political dispute over Jhota’s killing. Before Shah reached Mansa, Mann announced that the case would be transferred to the CBI. Punjab is due to hold assembly elections early next year, making drug policy and public safety especially prominent political issues.

The three men became symbols of the risks faced by people challenging Punjab’s drug trade. Bikramjit Singh was described as someone who lost his life after raising his voice against the unchecked trade. Gulzar Singh publicly questioned a Punjab minister about the open sale of synthetic drugs, called “chitta,” and later died by suicide after alleged intimidation.

Parvinder Singh Jhota was an anti-drug activist who opposed the illegal sale of addictive substances at chemist shops. He was shot dead inside a medical store in Mansa while hosting a Facebook Live. Police took store owner Ashwani Kumar into custody after Kumar allegedly opened fire when Jhota questioned a drug sale.

Their cases gained political weight because Shah visited all three families and blamed the AAP government. He said Punjab’s youth were vulnerable to drugs and those opposing traffickers were not safe. Mann’s decision to transfer Jhota’s case to the CBI intensified the political spotlight.

Shah met three families during the visit: Bikramjit Singh’s in Gurdaspur, Gulzar Singh’s in Sangrur, and Parvinder Singh Jhota’s in Mansa. The meetings connected separate tragedies through a common political theme: people who challenged drug-related activity were allegedly harmed or killed.

The article gives different circumstances for each man. Bikramjit Singh allegedly lost his life after speaking against the unchecked drug trade. Gulzar Singh committed suicide after facing alleged intimidation for publicly questioning a Punjab minister about the open sale of “chitta,” a synthetic drug. Jhota, an anti-drug activist, was shot inside a medical store on October 13.

According to the article, store owner Ashwani Kumar allegedly opened fire after Jhota questioned him about selling addictive drugs to an elderly man. Jhota was hosting a Facebook Live at the time. Kumar was later taken into custody in Rajasthan’s Salasar. The cases fueled attacks between Shah and the Punjab government.

In the article, “chitta” is the local term used for synthetic drugs allegedly sold openly in Punjab. It also refers more broadly to addictive substances being sold illegally, including through some chemist shops. The central concern is not only the substance itself, but the illegal supply that can expose people, especially young people, to dependence and harm.

The article gives two examples. Gulzar Singh publicly questioned a Punjab minister about the open sale of “chitta” before allegedly facing intimidation and later dying by suicide. Parvinder Singh Jhota challenged the alleged sale of addictive drugs to an elderly man inside a medical store. The store owner allegedly opened fire during that confrontation.

The source does not provide “chitta’s” chemical formula, exact ingredients, or a formal medical definition. Established usage commonly treats the term as referring to illicit white powdered drugs, but the precise substance can vary. The article’s political argument is that illegal sales and weak protection for challengers are worsening Punjab’s drug problem.

The article says Bhagwant Mann announced the transfer after political controversy over Jhota’s murder. It does not state a detailed official reason beyond the surrounding dispute. The decision came before Shah’s Mansa visit and after Jhota was shot while opposing alleged illegal drug sales, placing pressure on the state government to demonstrate a serious investigation.

The CBI, or Central Bureau of Investigation, is India’s central investigative agency. In a criminal case, it can examine evidence, question witnesses and suspects, inspect records, and pursue charges when the evidence supports prosecution. The precise legal process depends on the case and applicable approvals. These functions are general knowledge; the article only reports the transfer decision.

The transfer gives the case a central-level investigative role rather than leaving it solely with Punjab’s police machinery. It may also shape public confidence because the killing had become a political issue. The article does not report the investigation’s findings, a final charge sheet, or any court outcome.

Drug trafficking affects public safety by creating violence, intimidation and fear around illegal sales. The article says Punjab’s drug network has grown and traffickers have become emboldened. It also highlights alleged attacks on people who opposed the trade. Such conditions can discourage residents from reporting dealers or questioning suspicious sales.

Young people are central to the concern. Shah said Punjab’s youth were falling prey to drugs while people raising their voices against the problem were not safe. The article also describes Jhota’s challenge to alleged sales at a medical store, and Gulzar Singh’s public questioning of a minister about “chitta” before alleged intimidation.

The issue has electoral consequences because Punjab is scheduled to hold assembly elections early next year. Shah used the deaths and drug allegations to attack the AAP government’s record. Mann’s decision to transfer Jhota’s case to the CBI showed the pressure on the state government. The article presents drug control and public protection as major campaign issues.

In India’s federal system, state authorities generally manage local policing, public order and the first response to crimes within the state. The Punjab government therefore faced immediate responsibility for investigating Jhota’s killing and addressing safety around illegal drug sales. The article presents Shah as the Union home minister, criticising Punjab’s handling of the wider drug problem.

The CBI is a central investigative agency that can take up a case when legally authorised. Here, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann announced that Jhota’s murder case would be transferred to the CBI. The article does not explain the precise legal approval or procedural steps. It does show the state government choosing a central agency for this high-profile case.

Responsibility can therefore overlap. Punjab must protect residents and investigate crimes locally, while the Union government can provide national policy, political scrutiny and central investigative capacity. The article does not assign a specific agency responsibility for every drug case. It mainly records the dispute between Shah and the AAP government over performance and accountability.