Centre provides X-category security to families of Punjab anti-drug victims after Amit Shah's visit

The families of two men who died after raising concerns over the drug trade in Punjab have been granted X-category security by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), following an assessment of heightened threats.

The protection has been extended to Gulzar Singh's wife and the parents of slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota. Each protectee will have three security personnel under the arrangement, with teams from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) assigned to the families.

Sangrur BJP leader Daman Bajwa said the security teams were on their way and would be stationed with the families later on Friday. Dirba Deputy Superintendent of Police Rupinder Kaur Bajwa also confirmed that local authorities had received verbal communication from a CRPF official about the allocation of security for Gulzar Singh's wife.

Two families receive protection amid security concerns

Gulzar Singh, a Dalit daily-wage worker from Toor Banjara village in Sangrur district, died on September 7 after allegedly consuming pesticide. A day earlier, he had questioned Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the alleged unchecked sale of drugs in the village during a public event in Dirba.

His family has alleged that Gulzar faced harassment and casteist abuse following the confrontation. The security cover for his wife comes amid concerns about the safety of relatives pursuing allegations linked to his death.

Jhota was shot dead in Mansa district on October 13 while confronting a local chemist allegedly selling habit-forming drugs. His parents have since sought action over his killing and raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Centre's decision follows a visit by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Punjab on October 20, when he met the families of both victims. Shah had assured them of justice and raised questions about the state's law-and-order situation and the safety of people speaking out against drugs.

Shah meets another anti-drug campaigner's family

During his October 20 visit, Shah also went to Marhi Pannwan village near Sri Hargobindpur in the Batala subdivision of Gurdaspur district, where he met the family of 40-year-old anti-drug campaigner Bikramjit Singh.

Bikramjit was hacked to death after a group of 10 to 15 armed men allegedly ambushed him and his two companions, Nishan Singh and Gurmukh Singh. The trio had opposed the narcotics trade operating in their neighbourhood.

Shah also met Mohanjit Singh Sheron, who alleged that he had been subjected to custodial torture after displaying a black flag during Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's Lok Milni programme.

Centre seeks details from Punjab government

The security decision comes amid growing political scrutiny of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's handling of drug trafficking and law and order in the state.

The MHA had sought details from the Punjab government about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Gulzar Singh, Jhota and Bikramjit Singh. Shah had said the Centre would seek a response from the state government over the incidents, while calling for an impartial investigation into allegations of political patronage for criminal networks.

The Punjab government has announced that the investigation into Jhota's murder will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), following a demand from his family.

The provision of central security to the two families follows their meetings with Shah and comes as the deaths of people who had opposed drug-related activities continue to fuel demands for accountability and stronger action against narcotics networks in Punjab.