A sharp inter-state dispute between the Punjab Police and the Rajasthan Police has erupted over the origin of a viral video purportedly showing youths in a dazed, drug-induced state — a clip that has been widely labelled a 'zombie drug' video on social media. The controversy was triggered after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh shared the footage on social media platform X, citing it as evidence of worsening drug abuse among Punjab's youth.

How the Dispute Began

The video, which shows several young men apparently standing in a stupor, spread rapidly across social media platforms with claims that those featured were under the influence of so-called 'zombie drugs.' Harbhajan Singh, in his post on X, expressed alarm over the state of Punjab's youth and appealed to governments and civil society to act urgently against the growing drug menace. He described the situation as 'deeply distressing.'

In response, the Punjab Police pushed back on social media, asserting that the video was actually filmed in Sri Ganganagar, a district in Rajasthan, and had no connection to any incident in Punjab. The force also cautioned social media users that the addition of Punjabi audio to a video does not establish that the events depicted occurred in Punjab.

Rajasthan Police Contradict Punjab's Version

Sri Ganganagar Superintendent of Police Hari Shankar has flatly rejected the Punjab Police's claim. According to SP Shankar, the video has no connection whatsoever to Sri Ganganagar district, and the youths visible in the footage are from Punjab.

The SP further revealed that the video was originally uploaded on Instagram approximately three to four days ago by a person from Pilibanga in Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan — but stressed that the upload location does not establish where the video was recorded. The Rajasthan Police are now working to trace the individual who posted the video in order to determine its actual origin and the circumstances surrounding it.

Formal Clarification Expected

SP Hari Shankar confirmed that the Rajasthan Police will issue a formal clarification on the matter. The controversy has notably shifted from the disturbing content of the video itself — the alleged drug use — to a jurisdictional dispute between two state police forces over where the footage was recorded.

This is not the first time viral videos depicting drug abuse have triggered political and administrative blame-shifting between Punjab and neighbouring states. Punjab has long battled a severe drug crisis, and social media posts linking the state to such footage routinely ignite political flashpoints, particularly involving the ruling and opposition parties.

Political Dimension

The fact that a sitting BJP Rajya Sabha MP was the first to share the video adds a political layer to what is, at its core, a law-enforcement and public health concern. Critics argue that such social media posts, made without verified location data, risk inflaming regional tensions and distracting from the urgent task of tackling drug addiction among youth. The Punjab Police's counter-claim, also made on social media rather than through official channels, has drawn its own scrutiny.

As investigations continue, the broader question of how viral drug-abuse videos are handled — and weaponised — by political actors and police forces alike remains unresolved.