Shah’s chopper first landed in Gurdaspur’s Batala, from where he flew to Mari Panwan village to meet the family of 40‑year‑old Bikramjit Singh, who was shot dead on Oct 15. "I met the family of late Bikramjit Singh at their residence in Gurdaspur today and expressed my condolences over his death," he posted on X in Punjabi, echoing the village’s claim that the killing was retaliation for his anti‑drug stance.
Villagers insist Bikramjit was targeted because he opposed local drug peddling, whereas police say the murder was a fallout of a scuffle between rival gangs over a mobile phone. The incident underlines the growing audacity of traffickers and the lack of protection for those who raise their voices.
Punjab’s drug crisis has worsened in recent years, with a spike in overdose cases and a rise in the number of people caught in drug‑related police raids. State officials say they have stepped up enforcement, but critics point to gaps in coordination between local and central agencies.
The AAP government has yet to respond publicly to Shah’s accusations. Meanwhile, the central government has not announced any further action to address the crisis or pressure the state administration.