Anti-drug activist Jhota murder case: Punjab govt to hand over probe to CBI

Chandigarh, Oct 20 (IANS) Ahead of the day-long visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the state, the AAP government in Punjab on Tuesday reiterated its support for the family of slain anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota, who has been fighting against drug abuse, and announced that his case will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in response to the family’s demand.

“We stand firmly with the father and family of Parminder Singh Jhota, who has been fighting against drugs. Respecting the family’s demand, we are handing over the case to the CBI,” the Chief Minister wrote on X.

Reaffirming its commitment to tackling the drug menace in Punjab, the government said its fight against drug traffickers would continue with full determination.

“Our fight against drug traffickers is a decisive one. We will not back down from taking any stringent measures necessary to make Punjab drug-free,” he added.

Home Minister Shah is visiting Punjab amid growing concern over drug trafficking and drug-related violence, with the death of anti-drug activist Jhota in Mansa bringing the issue into sharp focus.

During his visit, HM Shah is scheduled to meet the families of three people whose deaths have drawn attention to the state’s drug problem.

His itinerary includes Mansa, Sangrur and Gurdaspur, followed by Dussehra celebrations in Ludhiana, where an effigy symbolising ‘Chitta’, a synthetic drug, is scheduled to be burnt alongside Ravana.

The visit comes at a time when the drug menace has become a major political issue in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

The Union Home Ministry has also sought detailed reports from the Punjab government regarding three cases linked to the controversy.

In Mansa, HM Shah is scheduled to meet the family of Jhota, an anti-drug activist who was shot dead on October 13. His killing has triggered protests and demands for justice, intensifying public debate over the safety of people who speak out against drug trafficking.

Jhota’s father, Bhim Singh, has expressed support for HM Shah’s visit and invited the Union Home Minister to his residence. He has also appealed to HM Shah to meet the family at home rather than at the protest site.

The family’s demand for justice has become a central issue in the ongoing confrontation surrounding the case.

Apart from Mansa, HM Shah is scheduled to visit Mari Panwan village in Gurdaspur district to meet the family of Bikramjit Singh, who was killed on October 15.

In Sangrur district, HM Shah is expected to meet the family of Gulzar Singh, who died by suicide on September 7 after an alleged confrontation concerning drug sales in his village and remarks directed at Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. The circumstances and allegations surrounding the case have become part of the wider political debate.

State BJP General Secretary Anil Sareen said the three families HM Shah is scheduled to meet have become symbols of the fight against drugs in Punjab. The BJP has pledged that Punjab will be completely drug-free by December 31, 2029, after the party forms the government in the state.

Sareen said HM Shah’s visit comes at a time when Punjab is struggling with the devastating impact of drugs, while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is enjoying himself on a foreign tour. The BJP alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government has left Punjab to fend for itself, whereas the BJP stands firmly with the affected families.

–IANS

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