A spate of violent murders in Punjab — including the recent daylight killing of AAP leader Lucky Oberoi in Jalandhar — has ignited a fierce political storm, putting the Bhagwant Mann government on the defensive regarding the state's deteriorating law and order situation. Opposition parties are lambasting the administration, alleging a complete breakdown of security where criminals act with impunity, citing a surge in extortion threats and brazen killings early this year.
Adding weight to the criticism, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria remarked that the essential fear of law appears to be missing among criminals. Echoing this concern, former DGP Sarabdeep Singh Virk emphasised that administrative agencies must focus intensely on controlling this disorder, urging for activated intelligence, increased patrolling, and tighter checkpoints to regain control.
The opposition has specifically highlighted the vulnerability of even ruling party members, pointing to the murder of AAP leader Oberoi and the shooting of a former ASI's wife in Hoshiarpur as evidence of widespread insecurity. Other high-profile incidents, such as the shooting of a murder accused near the Mohali SSP office and the brazen killing of an AAP Sarpanch at a wedding in Tarn Taran, have further intensified calls for accountability.
Conversely, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav defended the administration, citing data to argue that Punjab's crime rate is significantly lower than national averages and far better than neighbouring Haryana or Delhi. While acknowledging the challenges posed by gangsters operating from abroad and prisons, the police maintain that a majority of extortion calls are local, and that substantial progress has been made by the Anti-Gangster Task Force in breaking criminal modules and reducing major crime heads compared to previous years.
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