Punjab Police faces scrutiny over drug allegations and mishandled protests
Allegations of planting narcotics and involvement in drug trafficking have placed the Punjab Police under intense scrutiny, according to The Indian Express.
The Punjab Police is facing intense scrutiny following a series of incidents involving allegations of drug-related activities, planting narcotics to frame individuals, and mishandling protests. These developments come weeks after IPS officer Gaurav Yadav was appointed regular Director General of Police (DGP) on October 9.
According to The Indian Express, the controversy began after the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota on October 13. Following the murder, a DSP was suspended in Mansa after a dharna demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the DGP. The state government has since ordered a CBI probe into Jhota's murder.
On October 14, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Constable Karandeep Singh near the Indo-Pak border in Tarn Taran district, allegedly recovering 15-16 kg of heroin from him. Additionally, ASI Sukhdev Singh of Khanna was suspended after CCTV footage purportedly showed him planting heroin in the residence of Shiv Sena Punjab leader Mahant Kashmir Giri.
The force is also facing criticism regarding three deceased individuals whose bodies remain in mortuaries. The families of Daljit Singh, found dead on October 27, and Ajay Kumar, who died on October 19, are seeking investigations. Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh alleged that police are pressuring these families to cremate the bodies.
On October 30, ASI Sehajpreet Singh was allegedly caught by residents consuming synthetic heroin in Budhlada. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira claimed that such incidents undermine the government's Yudh Nasheyan Virudh campaign.