Amit Shah slams Bhagwant Mann government over Punjab’s drug crisis, gangster raj and rising crime

 

 

Shah said the BJP would work towards making Punjab free from drugs and gangsterism if it comes to power in the state.

 

He said the party’s priorities would include taking strict action against drug networks, protecting young people from drug abuse, punishing criminals and ensuring that citizens can live without fear.

 

 

Since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann came to power in Punjab in March 2022, drug trafficking, gangster networks and organised crime have remained major challenges for the state.

 

The government has launched large-scale operations against drug smugglers and criminal gangs, but high-profile murders, extortion cases and repeated drug seizures continue to raise questions about law and order.

 

The Mann government has highlighted its anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nashean Virudh, and the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), established in April 2022, as key measures to tackle the problem. Government and police figures cite more than 95,000 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, over 1.27 lakh arrests and seizures of more than 7,260 kg of heroin since March 2022, although totals vary by reporting period.

 

Authorities have also reported freezing traffickers’ properties worth hundreds of crores of rupees and improving conviction rates in drug cases. The AGTF has claimed to have dismantled around 1,288 criminal modules.

 

Several major incidents have intensified criticism of the state government. The murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala on May 29, 2022, became a major political controversy after his security cover was reduced shortly before the killing.

 

Criminal networks linked to Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar were associated with the case, while opposition parties questioned the government’s handling of security. In 2026, the killings of village heads, including AAP-linked sarpanches, further highlighted concerns about gang-related violence and extortion. Criminal groups, some operating through foreign-based handlers, have increasingly been accused of targeting local leaders and businesses to demand money.

 

The murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa on October 13, 2026, has also drawn attention to the risks faced by people challenging the drug trade. Jhota was known for confronting chemists over alleged illegal drug sales and was shot dead in a marketplace while livestreaming a confrontation. Police initially pointed to personal enmity, while his family and opposition leaders raised concerns about the failure to protect those speaking out against drugs.

 

The case sparked political outrage and was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Separately, an October 2026 case involving Punjab Police constable Karandeep Singh, who was reportedly intercepted near the Pakistan border with 15-16 kg of heroin, raised concerns about possible insider involvement in cross-border smuggling. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) took over the investigation, and other arrests followed.

 

The AAP government says that its enforcement campaign, asset seizures and action against criminal networks are producing results. However, persistent drug trafficking, extortion calls and high-profile killings continue to fuel criticism from the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal. The challenge is not limited to arrests and seizures; it also involves disrupting cross-border supply chains, investigating alleged links between criminals and influential individuals, and ensuring that witnesses and anti-drug activists are protected.