Man killed in Pb; police deny Oppn drug angle claim

Chandigarh: A man was killed at a village in Punjab’s Batala following a scuffle between two groups over a mobile phone, police said on Friday, ruling out any drug angle to the incident even as some opposition leaders alleged that the victim paid the price for opposing alleged drug peddling in the area.

In a video posted on X by the Batala police, SSP Mehtab Singh said that on Thursday night, a murder was reported at Mari Panwan village in the district, which resulted from a scuffle between two groups over a mobile phone.

“A man identified as Bikramjit Singh was wounded by a sharp-edged weapon. He died later. Two others also sustained injuries in the incident,” the officer said. “There was no drug angle to the incident,” the SSP clarified. Police have launched a probe after registering a case under BNS Section 103 (murder), he said. “The accused have been identified and will be arrested soon,” the officer added.

However, AAP rivals slammed the Bhagwant Mann government over the incident, which came two days after a medical store owner gunned down anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, triggering a political slugfest in the state heading to polls early next year. Former Punjab Congress chief and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said in a post on X, “In Shri Hargobindpur, a young man has reportedly been killed and two others seriously injured for opposing alleged drug peddling.

“Who will protect Punjab’s children? How long will families suffer while the government only makes announcements? We need accountability, decisive action against drug networks, and a Punjab where raising your voice against drugs does not cost you your life.” Warring added, “This is alarming for Punjab and generations to come. While your government keeps blaming ‘chitta’ (adulterated heroin) coming from across the border, dangerous capsules are now reaching our villages, threatening our youth and even schoolchildren.”

BJP national president Nitin Nabin said the killing of 40-year-old Bikramjit Singh, just two days after anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot in Mansa, raises “serious questions” about the collapse of law and order in Punjab under AAP.

Reacting to Nabin’s remarks, Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon said on X, “Fully agree with Nitin Nabin ji. When those who raise their voice against drugs are gunned down in broad daylight, it is not just a failure of policing; it is the collapse of governance.”

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The Hans India