Amit Shah stepped into the dilapidated house on the outskirts of Gurdaspur on Tuesday, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and grief. The home, belonging to Bikramjit Singh, a 42‑year‑old shopkeeper who had allegedly drawn a gun after confronting a medical store owner over drug sales, had become a makeshift memorial after Singh was shot dead on October 13. Shah met Singh’s wife and two children, offering condolences and promising that the central government would not let such acts silence those who speak against drugs.
He was not alone in the state’s mourning. Parminder Singh Jhota, an anti‑drug activist from Mansa, was also gunned down on the same day, sparking protests across Punjab and a demand for a statewide bandh. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the case would be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation, a move that the Home Minister praised as a step toward accountability.
The BJP, now in opposition, has accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of turning a blind eye to the ‘chitta’ epidemic. Shah reiterated that the party had pledged to eradicate the drug menace by 31 December 2029, a promise made in Jalandhar earlier this month. “The attempt to silence those who speak against drugs will fail,” he told reporters, underscoring his resolve to crack down on traffickers.
Meanwhile, Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora raised concerns about a 3,000‑kilogram heroin shipment that allegedly entered through Gujarat’s Mundra Port and the state’s 543‑kilometre border with Pakistan. He questioned the central government’s security measures, warning that unchecked borders could fuel gangster culture and drug trafficking. “We need tighter coordination,” Arora said, echoing calls for stronger Narco‑Coordination Centre mechanisms.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has demanded detailed reports on both Singh’s and Jhota’s killings, urging the Punjab government to submit evidence of steps taken to counter narcotics. Shah’s next stop is set for Mansa and Sangrur, where families of victims will be met in a series of visits aimed at reinforcing the central promise. The CBI’s probe is slated to begin next week, with preliminary findings expected by early December.