Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Thursday, 15 October squarely blamed the Punjab government and state police for the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, who was shot dead by a medical store owner. Majithia called the killing a systemic failure and raised sharp questions over how the accused managed to hold a valid weapon licence despite a troubled record.

The Weapon Licence Question

At the heart of Majithia's attack is a pointed query about administrative accountability. 'The accused had his licence cancelled four times, and cases were registered against him on four occasions. How was he granted a licence again?' he said. Majithia argued that had the licence not been renewed, the conditions that led to Jhota's killing might never have materialised. The accused had allegedly been repeatedly flagged for drug-related activity, with Jhota himself reportedly one of the loudest voices highlighting the issue.

Direct Charge Against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann

Majithia trained his fire on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, dismissing the administration's claims of clean governance. 'You keep putting up posters calling him an honest Chief Minister. You should be ashamed. You cannot control drugs or law and order, and a CBI enquiry into cash-for-transfer allegations is underway,' he said. He questioned what the government's Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) were doing and alleged they may have been facilitating criminal elements rather than checking them.

Allegations Over OSD Appointments and Gangster Links

Going beyond the immediate incident, Majithia alleged that AAP had awarded chairperson posts in Zila Parishads and Block Samitis to family members of Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, a wanted gangster from the Gurdaspur area. He also cited the case of Rajbir Ghuman and his OSDs, alleging that postings and appointments were driven by money paid for access to illegal activities, including mining. 'Which police officer will be posted to facilitate illegal mining? Which officer will be posted to go soft on the drug issue? This happens because money has been paid,' he said.

Illegal Mining and Police Complicity

Majithia further alleged that illegal sand mining in Punjab could not sustain itself without active connivance from law enforcement. He claimed that the money trail reached Senior Superintendents of Police and Deputy Commissioners, and questioned why no action had been taken despite repeated reports and documented clearances. The allegation, if substantiated, would implicate multiple layers of the state administration.

A Tipping Point in Punjab's Drug Crisis

Majithia described Jhota's death as a watershed moment in Punjab's long-running battle against drugs. 'This has become a tipping point and a spark that has ignited the issue. The problem is not new; it has been occurring every day, and people are suffering because of it. However, Jhota has amplified their voices and brought everyone together,' he said. The killing has drawn widespread attention to the vulnerability of anti-drug activists operating without adequate state protection. How the Punjab government responds to these mounting allegations will likely shape the political narrative around law and order heading into the next electoral cycle.