Union Home Minister meets families of Parvinder Singh Jhota, Gulzar Singh and Vikramjit Singh; sets December 31, 2029, target to eradicate drug trafficking from Punjab

Shah confirms CBI probe into Jhota murder will begin Wednesday; urges Punjab government to hand over Gurdaspur and Sangrur cases to central agency

Chandigarh, 20 October (H.S.): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday called upon the people of Punjab to unite in the fight against drug trafficking, assuring them of the Central Government's full support. He said the Narendra Modi-led government was committed to eliminating drug trafficking networks from Punjab by December 31, 2029.

During the press conference in Ludhiana before returning to Delhi, Shah expressed deep concern over the growing drug menace and accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to control the situation.

Earlier in the day, Shah visited the families of three men who, according to him, had lost their lives after standing against drugs: Parvinder Singh Jhota of Mansa, Gulzar Singh of Sangrur and 40-year-old Vikramjit Singh of Gurdaspur.

Describing the meetings as deeply distressing, Shah said that speaking out against drug traffickers in Punjab had become a threat to people's lives.

He criticised the AAP government for allegedly failing to fulfil its 2022 election promise to eliminate drugs within three months.

Shah maintained that his visit was not politically motivated. Responding to criticism from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, he said the state government was free to criticise him but should concentrate on tackling drug trafficking rather than engaging in political disputes.

The Home Minister alleged that drug traffickers were receiving protection in Punjab and questioned reports of police personnel being implicated in drug-related activities.

Referring to the seizure of narcotics worth ₹20,000 crore at a Gujarat port, Shah asked the Punjab government to explain how drugs were reaching households across the state.

Shah announced that the Parvinder Singh Jhota murder case had been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), with the investigation scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

He also urged the Punjab government to transfer the cases involving Vikramjit Singh of Gurdaspur and Gulzar Singh of Sangrur to the CBI to ensure thorough investigations and strict action against those responsible.

Questioning Punjab's anti-drug enforcement measures, Shah claimed that 929 cases had been registered across the country under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act over the past year, while Punjab had not registered a single such case in four years.

He further stated that 48 anti-drug meetings had been held nationwide and that the Union Home Ministry had conducted three meetings during the past year. However, he alleged that the Punjab government had failed to convene even one such meeting.

Shah also raised concerns over delays in forensic examination of seized drugs, claiming that samples of chitta often remained pending at forensic science laboratories for years, allowing accused traffickers to secure bail.

He demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann clarify what action was being taken against officials and political leaders allegedly facilitating drug trafficking.

Reaffirming the Centre's commitment, Shah said that achieving a drug-free India was an essential step towards building a developed nation under the Viksit Bharat vision.

He urged Punjab's citizens to stand united against drugs and assured them that the Central Government would support their efforts to eliminate the menace.

Shah's allegations against the Punjab government and his claims regarding drug enforcement figures were made during his public remarks and have not been independently verified.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH