Ravneet Bittu convoy attacked near Batala, BJP blames AAP workers
Synopsis
On the very morning BJP launched its Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra, former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu's convoy was allegedly attacked near Batala by a 200-strong mob. With BJP accusing AAP workers — and even Punjab Police — of enabling the assault, the incident signals a sharp escalation in political tensions over Punjab's drug crisis ahead of the campaign.
Key Takeaways
Ravneet Singh Bittu alleged his convoy was attacked near Batala on 18 September while heading to Pathankot for the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra launch.
The attackers allegedly numbered more than 200 , pelting vehicles with eggs, tomatoes, and stones and smashing escort vehicle windows.
Bittu alleged the assailants were AAP supporters and claimed some Punjab Police personnel were facilitating the confrontation.
Punjab BJP President Kewal Dhillon condemned the attack on X , warning CM Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal against intimidating BJP workers.
The Punjab DGP has been urged by the BJP to take immediate action; no official response from the AAP government or police had emerged at the time of reporting.
BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Friday, 18 September alleged that his convoy was attacked near Batala in Punjab while he was travelling to Pathankot for the launch of the party's 'Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra'. The incident reportedly occurred on the Amritsar-Pathankot highway before the anti-drug campaign could even formally begin.
What Bittu Alleged
In a video statement, Bittu claimed that a group of more than 200 people surrounded and disrupted his cavalcade, pelting vehicles with eggs, tomatoes, and stones, and damaging the windows of escort vehicles. He alleged that those involved were supporters of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and further claimed that some police personnel were reportedly facilitating the confrontation rather than preventing it. Bittu called the incident 'a grave threat to democracy and the safety of political leaders.'
BJP State Chief Condemns the Attack
Punjab BJP President Kewal Dhillon strongly condemned the alleged attack, posting on social media platform X: 'Even before the Nasha Mukt Yatra could begin, the Aam Aadmi Party has become rattled.' Dhillon confirmed that eggs and tomatoes were hurled at convoy vehicles and that windows were smashed. He directly warned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal that such acts would not intimidate the party's workers.
'We will take our fight against drugs to its logical conclusion,' Dhillon said, also urging the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) to take immediate action against those responsible. He added that the Punjab Police should 'perform its role as a professional police force' rather than acting as political volunteers.
The Larger Political Context
The alleged attack came on the very day the BJP was launching its Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra — an anti-drug drive clearly aimed at targeting the AAP-led state government's handling of Punjab's drug menace. This comes amid escalating political tensions between the BJP and the AAP government in Punjab, where drugs have long been a flashpoint issue. Notably, this is not the first time political convoys in Punjab have been caught in inter-party confrontations during high-profile campaigns.
As of the time of reporting, there was no official response from the AAP government or the Punjab Police to the allegations made by Bittu and Dhillon. Whether the Punjab DGP acts on BJP's demand for accountability will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
But the BJP has already won the first news cycle. The deeper issue is the claim that Punjab Police personnel were facilitating, not preventing, the confrontation — an allegation that, if substantiated, would point to a serious breakdown of institutional neutrality. Punjab's drug crisis remains a genuine governance challenge, and political brinkmanship of this kind risks drowning out the substantive accountability debate that voters deserve.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Ravneet Bittu's convoy near Batala?
Ravneet Singh Bittu alleged on 18 September that his convoy was surrounded and attacked near Batala on the Amritsar-Pathankot highway by a group of more than 200 people who pelted vehicles with eggs, tomatoes, and stones, and smashed escort vehicle windows. He was on his way to Pathankot for the launch of the BJP's Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra.
Who did Bittu blame for the attack on his convoy?
Bittu alleged that the attackers were supporters of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He also claimed that some Punjab Police personnel were reportedly facilitating the confrontation rather than intervening to stop it.
What is the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra?
The Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra is an anti-drug awareness campaign launched by the BJP in Punjab, aimed at highlighting the state government's handling of the drug menace. The yatra was scheduled to begin from Pathankot on 18 September.
How did the BJP respond to the alleged attack?
Punjab BJP President Kewal Dhillon strongly condemned the incident, posting on X and warning Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal that BJP workers would not be intimidated. Dhillon also urged the Punjab DGP to take immediate action against those responsible.
Has the AAP government responded to the allegations?
As of the time of reporting on 18 September, neither the AAP government nor the Punjab Police had issued an official response to the allegations made by Bittu and BJP state president Kewal Dhillon.
