DURING BANDH, LEADERS TARGET PUNJAB GOVT. FOR A “BIG FAILURE” IN CONTROLLING DRUG MENACE

Raj Sadosh/Abohar.

A complete ‘Punjab Bandh’ was observed today in protest against the daylight murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota—chief of the Anti-Drug Task Force—by a medical store operator in Mansa. All markets and transport services remained at a standstill; only hospitals and medical services continued to operate.

Various farmers’ unions, political parties, and justice-oriented organizations staged a ‘dharna’ at the Shaheed Smarak, outside the Sadar Bazar, raising slogans against the Punjab govt. Local Beopar Mandal had also supported the call for Bandh. The Recognised and Affiliated Schools Association had directed its members to keep private schools closed.

The protesting leaders said that the Punjab government has proven completely incapable of controlling the drug menace, which is leading to the untimely deaths of countless young people. Furthermore, criminal elements have no fear of the police, as evidenced by the brazen, daylight shootings of individuals who dare to oppose drug trafficking—a glaring failure of the Punjab government. The administration has failed to provide security to citizens; as a result, not only Parvinder Jhota, but also figures like Sidhu Moosewala, Deep Sidhu, and some Kabaddi players have lost their lives. Farmer leaders asserted that the state’s Chief Minister and the Director General of Police (DGP) are directly responsible for this situation.