Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday vowed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would track down those responsible for the murder of Punjab anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, declaring that the culprits would be pursued “even in Pataal Lok (hell)”.
Shah made the statement after meeting the families of three people who died in separate incidents allegedly linked to opposition to drug trafficking in Punjab. He thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for transferring Jhota’s murder case to the CBI and said the other cases could also be handed over to the central agency if the state government was unable to resolve them.
Hours before Shah’s visit, the Punjab government had announced its decision to transfer Jhota’s murder investigation to the CBI.
Shah Criticises Punjab Government Over Drug Menace
During a press conference, Shah accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to fulfil its promise to eliminate drugs from Punjab within three months of coming to power.
He said meeting the bereaved families had left him deeply distressed and described the situation on the ground as worse than what was being reported in the media.
Shah also questioned the state government’s response to the deaths and called for stronger action against drug trafficking and related violence.
How Parvinder Singh Jhota Was Killed
Jhota, known for campaigning against drug abuse and the alleged illegal sale of addictive substances through medical stores, was shot dead inside a medical shop in Mansa on October 13 while conducting a Facebook Live session.
According to reports, Jhota had confronted medical store owner Ashwani Kumar over the alleged sale of drugs to an elderly man. Kumar allegedly opened fire, killing the activist.
The case has intensified concerns over the safety of people who challenge drug trafficking in the state.
Shah Meets Families of Other Victims
Earlier on Tuesday, Shah visited the family of Bikramjit Singh in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district. Singh, 40, was allegedly attacked with a sharp weapon in Pannawan village on October 15 after objecting to drug peddling. He died at the scene, while two other people sustained serious injuries.
Shah offered condolences to Singh’s mother and interacted with other members of the family.
The Home Minister subsequently travelled to Sangrur district to meet the family of Gulzar Singh, a Dalit man who died by suicide on September 7.
Gulzar Singh’s family alleged that he consumed poison after facing harassment and caste-based insults for questioning Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the availability of drugs in his locality.
BJP Renews Pledge to Make Punjab Drug-Free
Punjab BJP vice-president Fatehjang Singh Bajwa said Shah’s visit reflected the party’s commitment to tackling the state’s drug problem.
Bajwa reiterated the BJP’s promise to eliminate the drug menace in Punjab by December 31, 2029, if the party forms the government in the state.
The issue has become a major political flashpoint ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, with drug trafficking, addiction and drug-related violence drawing renewed public and political attention.
Shah was also scheduled to attend Dussehra celebrations in Ludhiana, where an effigy representing ‘chitta’, a synthetic drug commonly associated with the narcotics problem in Punjab, was to be burnt alongside Ravana’s effigy as part of the BJP’s anti-drug campaign.