Shah Meets Bikramjit Singh's Family in Batala; Sangrur, Mansa Nextਅਮਿਤ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਬਟਾਲਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਿਕਰਮਜੀਤ ਦੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲੇ; ਅੱਗੇ ਸੰਗਰੂਰ, ਮਾਨਸਾ

Union Home Minister Amit Shah began a day-long Punjab visit on Tuesday by meeting the family of Bikramjit Singh in Mari Panwan village near Batala, Gurdaspur, the first stop in a tour to meet families of people whose deaths were linked to opposition to drugs.

Shah landed by helicopter and went straight to the village. The Hindu, The Economic Times and Akashvani News reported the meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

What did Shah say to Bikramjit's family?

A family member told reporters that Shah assured them justice would be done, according to The Economic Times. "He read our memorandum of demands and took it along. He listened to us patiently," the relative said. Hindi and Punjabi reports from Amar Ujala and Punjabi Jagran quote the family as saying Shah promised a CBI inquiry and a job for a family member. Those are the family's accounts; no official statement on either had been reported at the time of writing.

What do we know about Bikramjit Singh's death?

Bikramjit, 40, was killed on October 15. Villagers say he was targeted for opposing drug peddling in his area. Police, however, have said the murder was the fallout of a scuffle between two groups over a mobile phone, The Hindu reported.

Where does Shah go next?

After Batala, Shah is scheduled to meet the family of Gulzar Singh in Toor Banjara village, Sangrur. Gulzar, a Dalit man, died by suicide on September 7; his family alleges he consumed poison after being harassed and subjected to casteist slurs for questioning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about drug supply in his locality, per The Hindu.

Shah will then meet the family of slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, and later attend the Dussehra programme in Ludhiana, where a "chitta" effigy is to be burnt along with Ravana.

How does this tie to the Jhota case?

Hours before the visit, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the Jhota murder case would be handed to the CBI. Jhota was shot dead in a Mansa medical store on October 13, and his body had remained uncremated for a week. His father Bhim Singh had said he would raise the CBI demand with Shah. The visit is Shah's second to Punjab in 20 days, and the BJP has made drugs a core issue ahead of the assembly election due early next year, Hindustan Times reported.

Why is Shah visiting Punjab today?

Shah is meeting families of people whose deaths were linked to resisting the drug trade in Gurdaspur, Sangrur and Mansa. The Home Ministry had earlier sought detailed reports from the Punjab government on the three cases.

Did Shah promise a CBI probe in the Bikramjit case?

Family members told Amar Ujala and Punjabi Jagran that he did. Police have attributed the killing to a dispute over a mobile phone, and no official announcement had been reported yet.

Which families will Shah meet?

Those of Bikramjit Singh in Batala, Gulzar Singh in Sangrur's Toor Banjara, and Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa.