The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has written three letters to the Punjab government seeking detailed reports on the killing of anti-drug activist Parwinder Singh alias Jhota in Mansa, the suicide of Gulzar Singh and an attack in Gurdaspur.
The Centre has sought information on the circumstances surrounding the incidents as well as the action taken by the state government. The move comes as Punjab faces continued scrutiny over its narcotics problem and the broader law and order situation.
Jhota was known for campaigning against the sale and abuse of drugs. His killing, along with the Gurdaspur attack, has brought renewed attention to the state's efforts to tackle narcotics. The incidents occurred within days of each other, while protests broke out in Punjab after Jhota's death on October 13.
In a letter dated October 16 and addressed to the Punjab chief secretary, the home ministry requested a comprehensive factual report on Jhota's killing and the measures taken by the government in response.
The ministry has also asked the state to provide details of the steps taken on the Centre's Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029). Union Home Minister Amit Shah had shared the document with the Punjab chief minister on August 10.
Measures outlined in the narcotics control roadmap
The roadmap proposes a dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force, compulsory financial investigations, stronger prosecution and specialised NDPS courts. It also calls for outcome-oriented reviews through the Narco Coordination Centre mechanism, the appointment of nodal officers and action against transnational drug networks.
The Centre's intervention comes at a politically sensitive point for the Bhagwant Mann government, which has made the fight against drugs a key governance commitment.
The reports sought from Punjab are expected to set out the factual details of the three cases and the action taken in each. The scrutiny also extends to the state's broader anti-drug strategy, including whether the institutional steps listed in the Centre's roadmap are being implemented effectively.
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