Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Tuesday that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would investigate the alleged murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Punjab’s Mansa district.
During his meeting with Jhota’s father, Bhim Singh, and other relatives, Shah offered his condolences and assured them that the family would receive justice. The interaction lasted approximately 20 minutes.
Shah said a CBI team would arrive at the family’s residence by 12 noon on Wednesday to start the investigation.
Shah’s day-long Punjab tour included meetings with three families who had reportedly suffered losses linked to the state’s drug problem.
In Mari Pannu village in Gurdaspur district, he met the family of Vikramjit Singh. Vikramjit was allegedly killed by the drug mafia in recent days.
The family handed him a memorandum, while Shah conveyed his sympathies and pledged the Centre’s support.
The Home Minister subsequently visited Toor Banjara village in Sangrur district, where he consoled Gulzar Singh’s family.
Gulzar was allegedly driven to suicide after speaking out against the chitta drug trade.
Shah also criticised the state government over the drug menace. The visit was his second to Punjab within 20 days.
Cheema Accuses Centre of Inaction
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema challenged the Centre’s approach, alleging that it had failed to take effective action against manufacturers and suppliers of synthetic and pharmaceutical drugs in BJP- and Congress-governed states.
“The main sources of synthetic and pharmaceutical drugs flooding Punjab are in states governed by the BJP and Congress, yet the Central government has failed to take decisive action against those manufacturing and supplying these substances,” Cheema said.
He added that the Bhagwant Mann-led administration would continue its campaign against drug trafficking. He said political or administrative hurdles would not weaken its efforts.
Before Shah’s arrival, the AAP government had also announced that Jhota’s case would be transferred to the CBI. The decision came in response to his family’s demand.
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