Union Home Minister Amit Shah put a series of questions to the Bhagwant Mann-led administration in Punjab over its handling of drug trafficking, organised criminal networks, and the protection of individuals who have spoken out against narcotics activity in the state. Bringing up the killing of Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa and the death by suicide of Gulzar Singh in Dirba, he stated that the Punjab government would need to account for both incidents. The Union Home Ministry, Shah noted, would be directing formal questions to the state government in connection with both matters.
Shah raised concerns in a public statement about what he described as a rise in drug-related activity, gang networks, and organised criminal operations across Punjab. He also questioned which party or authority holds accountability for the safety of the state's population, and pointed to concerns about the wellbeing of those who speak out against drug use.
Speaking at a public event, Shah argued that residents of Punjab would not be won over by announcements and publicity drives alone. He put forward addressing drug networks through firm measures and launching a neutral inquiry into the reported shielding of criminal actors as priorities. His remarks centred on policing and public order within the state, alongside the protection of ordinary residents.
Shah put forward pledges to rid Punjab of drug trafficking, dismantle gang networks, and restore safety across the state, stating that forming a government would be the prerequisite for that work to begin. He outlined four areas he intended to focus on: dismantling drug networks, safeguarding young people's futures, holding offenders accountable, and restoring the authority of the law. His remarks outlined an aspiration for Punjab in which every resident would go about daily life without the threat of fear.
During a statement on the 13 October events in Mansa district, Shah drew attention to the killing of Parvinder Singh Jhota. According to information available at the time, Parvinder had been questioning the operator of a medical shop about pills being sold for their intoxicating effects. As the confrontation intensified, a weapon was discharged by the accused toward the group, and Parvinder was killed at the scene. Video footage of the killing was said to have been recorded during a Facebook Live session he was broadcasting at the time.
A person has been taken into custody in connection with the killing, and a bulldozer was deployed at the property belonging to the accused. Questions about the protection of people who speak out against narcotics trafficking have come to the fore following the episode.
Gulzar Singh's death by suicide in Dirba, a locality within Sangrur district, was among the cases Shah raised. Gulzar Singh took his own life on 7 September, with poison identified as the means, based on details that have come to light. According to reports, he had raised questions with Punjab's Finance Minister about narcotics being openly sold in the village.
Allegations that workers affiliated with the Aam Aadmi Party subjected him to mistreatment and public humiliation surfaced in the period that followed. His family members have separately raised claims tied to the circumstances of his death. Accusations directed at the Aam Aadmi Party government and one of its sitting MLAs have also come forward in connection with the matter.
The Union Home Ministry, according to Shah, will formally request explanations from the Punjab government regarding both incidents. Shah's remarks have drawn renewed attention to questions around narcotics trafficking, the reach of organised crime, and the protection of those who speak out against drug networks in Punjab. Two separate matters are under scrutiny — a homicide reported out of Mansa, and the circumstances surrounding Gulzar Singh's death in Dirba along with the accusations tied to it.
