Anti-Drug Activist Shot in Barnala After Committee Hands Drug Users to Policeਬਰਨਾਲਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਵਿਰੋਧੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੇ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਨੂੰ ਗੋਲੀ ਮਾਰੀ

A member of a village anti-drug committee was shot in the leg at his home in Barnala district on Saturday, allegedly by associates of people the panel had handed to police hours earlier. Four men have been named, police teams have been formed, and raids are under way.

What happened in Kaleke village?

The shooting took place at the home of Amandeep Singh, known as Aman, in Kaleke village of Barnala district. Amandeep is a member of the village anti-drug committee, which the village panchayat, the sarpanch and local organisations had jointly formed about 15 to 20 days ago to work towards making Kaleke drug-free.

According to committee member Sukhchain Singh Chinna, the confrontation began on Saturday morning, when the committee caught a youth allegedly consuming drugs at a house in the village. The youth reportedly named several associates, who fled. The committee informed police through the emergency number 112 and handed the people it had caught over to the police, who asked the committee members to visit the police station.

Before Amandeep could reach the station, associates of the detained people allegedly arrived at his house, pushed open the main gate, opened fire and fled in a vehicle. Amandeep was first taken to a hospital in Barnala and later referred to a super-speciality facility. Doctors said his condition was stable and that a CT scan and other investigations would help determine the extent of the gunshot injury.

Who is accused?

Chinna named four men as the alleged attackers: Ranjit Singh Raju, Sukhpreet Singh alias Sukhhu, Sukhchain Singh Chahan and Prince. He alleged that Ranjit Singh Raju has previous cases under the Arms Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Chinna also said the assailants came towards his house, forcing him to fire warning shots in the air with his licensed weapon. Police said teams had been formed to trace the four accused and were conducting raids.

What did police say?

Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajinder Pal Singh confirmed the shooting and said a case was being registered on the victim's family's statements. Barnala Police also posted a video statement in which the DSP outlined the response: the injured man was admitted to hospital, statements have been recorded, teams have been formed under his supervision, technical evidence is being gathered, and efforts are under way to arrest the accused soon.

What has been the reaction?

Congress MLA Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon condemned the attack and warned of a protest if the accused were not arrested within 24 hours. He said Punjab was witnessing a law-and-order breakdown and that youngsters speaking out against drugs were being targeted. Bhadaur MLA Labh Singh Ugoke visited the injured man in hospital and said he had spoken to the Barnala senior superintendent of police and other officials, who assured him the accused would be arrested soon.

Why this attack matters

The shooting comes less than a month after anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead in Mansa on October 13, after confronting a medical store owner over alleged sales of addictive drugs. His killing triggered protests across the state, the case went to the CBI, and the Punjab government agreed to pay Rs 2 crore in compensation and give his wife a government job.

The Barnala attack follows the same pattern: a local volunteer taking on the drug trade in his own village and then being targeted. It raises fresh questions about the safety of the village volunteers Punjab's anti-drug campaign depends on, and whether the arrests and assurances after Jhota's murder changed anything on the ground.

Where did the shooting happen?

The shooting happened at the home of Amandeep Singh in Kaleke village, Barnala district, on Saturday, November 7, hours after the village anti-drug committee handed suspected drug users to police.

What is the victim's condition?

Amandeep Singh was shot in the leg. He was first taken to a Barnala hospital, then referred to a super-speciality facility. Doctors said his condition was stable and scans would establish the extent of the injury.

Has anyone been arrested?

No arrests had been reported when the story was published. Police said teams had been formed and raids were under way to trace them.