Village anti-drug committee member shot in Punjab’s Barnala, injured
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Recent violence in Punjab highlights a dangerous trend of attacks against anti-drug activists. Authorities are investigating the shooting of a committee member in Kaleke and the aftermath of the murder of activist Parvinder Singh Jhota.
Escalating Violence Against Anti-Drug Activists in Punjab
Recent reports from Punjab paint a harrowing picture of the risks faced by community members attempting to combat the state's pervasive drug crisis. On November 8, 2026, a 27-year-old member of a local anti-drug committee, Amandeep Singh, was shot at his residence in Kaleke village. While he survived the attack with a bullet injury to his thigh, the incident underscores the precarious nature of civilian intervention in drug-related crime.
The Pattern of Retaliation
This attack follows the tragic death of Parvinder Singh Jhota, an activist who was shot dead in broad daylight on October 13 in a busy Mansa marketplace. Jhota had reportedly confronted a medical store owner regarding the sale of addictive substances to an elderly man, a move that culminated in his murder. The proximity of these two events—Jhota’s funeral rites occurring concurrently with the assault on Amandeep Singh—suggests a systematic pushback against grassroots anti-drug efforts.
Law Enforcement Response
Local authorities are currently managing the fallout of these incidents. In the Kaleke shooting, Dhanaula SHO Baljinder Singh confirmed that four local suspects have been identified, and an investigation into the motive is ongoing. Similarly, in the case of Jhota, the perpetrator was arrested following the confrontation at the medical store. The reliance on village-level committees to curb substance abuse highlights a gap in formal policing, yet these volunteers are clearly becoming prime targets for criminal syndicates.
Societal and Political Implications
The murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota sparked significant political rows and public protests, signaling deep-seated frustration among the citizenry regarding the safety of those who stand against drug traffickers. These attacks are not merely isolated criminal acts; they represent a direct challenge to the authority of civil society organizations that attempt to fill the void left by inadequate drug control measures in rural districts.
Looking Ahead: A Crisis of Safety
The trend of targeting activists creates a chilling effect that could discourage community participation in drug rehabilitation and prevention programs. Future stability in Punjab’s rural regions will likely depend on the state’s ability to provide protection for these volunteers and successfully prosecute those who use violence to maintain their illicit enterprises. Without robust state intervention, the cycle of violence against anti-drug activists threatens to undermine public order and the health of the local population.
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