New Delhi/Chandigarh, Oct 16: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the Centre will seek Punjab government’s response over two incidents in the state: a father consuming poison under pressure in Dirba and the broad daylight killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa.

In a post on microblogging site X, Shah said Punjab is today grappling with a rising threat of drugs, gangsterism and organised crime. He asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann who will ultimately bear the responsibility for the safety of Punjab’s people.

“In Dirba, a father succumbing to pressure and consuming poison, and in Mansa, the broad-daylight murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota — who had raised his voice against drugs — have raised serious questions about the law and order situation in Punjab,” Shah’s post read.

Jhota’s father has levelled grave allegations against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government and their MLA, it said, adding that the Home Ministry will seek responses from the Punjab government on both the incidents.

Jhota, an anti-drug activist, was shot dead by a medical store owner at a busy market in Mansa on Tuesday. Ashwani Kumar, the store owner who fired at Jhota when he was being questioned for selling addictive drugs to an elderly man, was subsequently arrested.

The first incident Shah referred to was the death by suicide of Gulzar Singh, who hailed from Dirba in Sangrur, on September 7. Gulzar’s family had alleged that he consumed poison after being harassed and subjected to casteist slurs for questioning Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the supply of drugs in his locality.

Political parties, including the BJP, have been increasingly highlighting the drug issue in poll-bound Punjab, where assembly elections are due early next year.

In his X post, Shah said, “In Punjab, the drug trade is flourishing, the threat of organised crime is growing, and questions are being raised about the safety of those who speak out against drugs.”

Addressing Chief Minister Mann, Shah said the people of Punjab want results, not publicity.

“Bhagwant Mann ji, the people of Punjab do not want promises, they want answers; not announcements, but results; decisive strikes against drug networks; and an impartial investigation into any political patronage received by criminals.

“Today, I reiterate my pledge before the people of Punjab that when our government comes to power in Punjab, we will work with full force to create a drug-free, gangster-free, and secure Punjab. Our goal is clear: strikes against the drug trade, protection of our youth’s future, strict action against criminals, and the rule of law in such a way that no citizen is forced to live under the shadow of fear,” the home minister said.

Reacting sharply to Shah’s post, Mann pointed to a drug seizure at a Gujarat port and advised the home minister to take responsibility for his own duties.

In an X post in Punjabi, Mann said, “Amit Shah ji, you should have consulted with your advisors before speaking about me. The BSF (Border Security Force) has jurisdiction over a 50-kilometre range. 3,000 kilograms of ‘chitta’ (synthetic drugs) are being seized at the Kandla port in Gujarat. Before blaming Bhagwant Mann, take responsibility for your own duties. Do not simply copy-paste tweets drafted for your sycophants.”

Last month, while addressing a rally in Jalandhar to mark the culmination of BJP’s “Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra”, Shah had accused the AAP government of allowing chitta trade to run openly and vowed that the BJP would make Punjab drug-free by December 2029 if voted to power.

During his Jalandhar visit on September 30, Shah had also met some families affected by the drug menace.

The home minister had then asserted that those indulging in the drug trade will be sent behind bars. “Remove the incompetent AAP government once and within two years, we will eradicate the drug menace,” he had said.

New Delhi, Oct 16: More than 6,000 Delhi Police personnel, 220 companies of Central Armed Police Forces and an expanded CCTV camera network have been pressed into service in the New Delhi area ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at the Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday.

The elaborate security arrangements cover Connaught Place, Rajiv Chowk, Central Park, Jantar Mantar, Palika Bazaar, nearby Metro stations and other sensitive locations in Lutyens’ Delhi, with additional personnel being mobilised from other districts to prevent any law-and-order situation during the proposed march at 5 pm.

Police have also positioned barricades at several points, including Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, ITO and Sansad Marg.

Officers said the focus is on securing multiple entry and exit points in the sprawling commercial district without bringing public movement to a standstill.

A senior police officer said that 5,000 additional personnel have been reserved from other districts to bolster the deployment.

The arrangements are being coordinated with the deployment of 220 CAPF companies earmarked for New Delhi, which will also cover adjoining districts, border areas and other important locations.

Thirty CAPF companies will be deployed during each shift, with three shifts planned through the day. The strength could be increased if the situation demands, particularly if crowds gather in large numbers or the demonstration continues into the night.

“If the crowd swells during the night and we need more security, we will increase the strength to 60 companies in one shift,” the officer said.

Surveillance has also been stepped up, with more than 10 CCTV cameras installed in and around Central Park and Rajiv Chowk to monitor the gathering and preserve footage in case of any violation or untoward incident.

“Since there were hardly any cameras at Central Park and a large gathering of people is expected, we have installed new cameras,” the officer said.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has announced that the Central Park will remain closed to the public on Friday and Saturday for “administrative reasons”, while Delhi Police has said that it could facilitate a select group of people to wave the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable spot.

The march, announced amid a stand-off between the CJP and Delhi Police over demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, was called after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to judicial custody for entering Jantar Mantar on October 13.

Student organisations, activists and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters are also expected to join the proposed demonstration.

Police are factoring in the area’s multiple access points, and the possibility of crowds spilling into the adjoining market stretches. Senior officers are also working out the deployment and movement of personnel to ensure that the security cordon does not unnecessarily disrupt commuters and commercial activity.

Delhi Police PRO Neha Yadav said the march had not been granted permission and that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS prohibiting mass gatherings were already in force in Connaught Place and surrounding areas.

The security plan has also taken into account the closure of Central Park, with the NDMC requesting adequate arrangements to prevent unauthorised entry.

Yadav said market and trade associations in and around Connaught Place had submitted written requests seeking protection for their establishments, citing concerns that large gatherings were affecting business.

Police have appealed to people to stay away from unauthorised gatherings and warned that action would be taken against those violating prohibitory orders or disturbing public peace.

“We are ready to grant permission to a select few protesters for a flag march at some other spot,” Yadav said, adding that any such alternative arrangement would have to be made at a suitable location.