Punjab Boils as Fresh Drug Death Sparks Intense Protests, Calls for CM's Resignation

Punjab is once again grappling with widespread unrest after the suspected drug overdose death of a farmer, Daljit Singh, in Mansa district on October 27, 2026, intensifying the state's severe drug crisis. This tragic incident, where his family alleged he died of a 'chitta' overdose, immediately triggered fierce protests, with demonstrators clashing with police who forcibly removed the body. The fresh outrage quickly merged with an ongoing fortnight-long 'Insaaf Morcha' demanding justice for anti-drug activist Pravinder Singh Jhota, who was fatally shot in Mansa on October 13 while confronting a medical store owner over illegal drug sales, a chilling incident captured on camera. The double tragedy has ignited a full-blown political firestorm, putting immense pressure on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, with opposition parties like the Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress, and BJP demanding his resignation. Critics accuse the AAP of failing to curb the rampant drug menace, despite its pre-election promises to eradicate it within months of coming to power. CM Mann, while condemning Jhota's murder and initiating an anti-drug campaign review, has countered by blaming the central government for defaming Punjab and failing to prevent cross-border drug smuggling. As the situation remains volatile with two bodies awaiting cremation and continued police-protester standoffs, the drug crisis is set to dominate the political discourse leading up to the 2027 Assembly elections. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is already probing Jhota's murder, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is considering a financial investigation into drug cases, signaling potential federal intervention. The coming weeks will test the AAP government's ability to restore law and order, address public anger, and demonstrate concrete progress against a crisis that continues to claim young lives and erode public trust.