A family in Punjab's Mansa district blocked a main road on Tuesday, 28 October 2026, placing the body of Daljit Singh, a 35-year-old man who reportedly died of a drug overdose, on the thoroughfare to demand police action against local narcotics suppliers. The protest drew sharp political reactions, with Opposition leaders targeting the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over its alleged failure to rein in the drug menace in the state.

What Happened in Mansa

Daljit's wife, Paramjit Kaur, and his mother, Sinder Kaur, along with other relatives, blocked traffic and alleged that drug-related deaths continue to claim lives in Punjab despite repeated government assurances. Police officials clarified that the exact cause of death would only be confirmed after a postmortem examination, and said an investigation is currently underway.

Tensions escalated when protesters clashed with police during the demonstration. Police subsequently removed the deceased's body from the protest site, a move that further inflamed the family's anger and raised questions over the handling of the situation.

Family Alleges Pressure and Procedural Violations

Members of Daljit's family alleged that police pressured them to sign documents without their consent. 'They are now portraying it as murder. The police have taken my father along and are conducting a postmortem. Why are they doing it without our consent when no one in our family has agreed to it? They came to our house and pressured us to sign documents,' a family member said.

Another relative questioned the manner in which the police were handling the case. 'If the police believe it was a murder, is this how they conduct an investigation — by hiding the body, fleeing with it and taking family members to separate police stations? Is this what a police investigation looks like?' the relative said. A separate family member appealed for a thorough investigation into the drug supply chain in the area, stating: 'Where is so much drug coming from, and where is this chitta being sold? There should be an investigation; that is all we want.'

Heavy Police Deployment, Protests Contained

Authorities deployed heavy police forces along major roads in Mansa to prevent protesters from reaching the ongoing demonstration site of slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota at Tinkoni, near the Deputy Commissioner's residence. Police also set up pickets in neighbouring districts to prevent further mobilisation of protesters ahead of Wednesday.

Opposition Demands Accountability

Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh criticised the political leadership sharply, demanding accountability from senior officials and the state government. 'The real issue is that Punjab is being turned into a spectacle. Both these parties are responsible for creating this situation; one is the B-team and the other is the A-team. I have always said this. The SSP should be dismissed immediately, and Bhagwant Mann and the DGP should resign,' Singh told reporters.

He also appealed to citizens to keep their protests peaceful and avoid any actions that could lead to further harm. This comes amid a broader pattern of recurring drug-related deaths in Punjab that have repeatedly sparked political controversy and public protests, even as successive governments have announced anti-drug campaigns.

What Comes Next

The postmortem report, once available, will determine the official cause of Daljit Singh's death and is expected to shape the direction of the police investigation. The family has demanded the identification and arrest of those allegedly supplying narcotics in the locality. Further developments in the case are awaited.