Drug Abuse in Punjab: Past Concerns to Present Challenges

Sangrur youth consumes poison outside DC office, alleges harassment over drug video.

Another case, disturbing news from Punjab. A 50-year-old daily wage worker named Gulzar Singh from Punjab's Sangrur district died by suicide in September 2026 after facing intense local pressure and alleged harassment for publicly questioning Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the state's rampant drug crisis.

Drug abuse has remained a serious social concern in Punjab, affecting individuals, families, and communities in different ways over the years.

Key Details of the Incident

The Confrontation: Singh confronted Minister Harpal Singh Cheema during a public grievance visit in his village, raising concerns over the open sale of synthetic drugs ('chitta' or heroin) and sharing that his own son's severe addiction had forced him to sell their house.

Alleged Harassment: In a widely circulated video recorded before he consumed pesticide/poison, Singh stated that local ruling-party affiliates, the village sarpanch, and police pressured and intimidated him to tender an apology for publicly criticizing the government. He named the finance minister and local figures as responsible for his extreme distress.

Legal and Political Fallout--- An FIR for abetment to suicide was registered against five individuals (including the sarpanch), though Finance Minister Cheema was not named directly in the police complaint.

Youth and students: How drug use can affect education, concentration, aspirations and future opportunities.

Families are affected: Financial hardship, broken relationships, domestic conflict, and the emotional burden on parents and children.

Health-related issues: Addiction, overdose, mental-health consequences and long-term physical damage.

Crime and social insecurity: How drug markets and addiction can intersect with theft, violence and other forms of crime.

Punjab has witnessed this problem for decades....but what has changed, what remains the same, and what lessons can society learn from the past? What factors have contributed to the problem, and what are its consequences for society?

Gulzar Singh, who lived in Sangrur district, struggled with intense pain after he consumed pesticide but managed to speak to people before he died.

"Cheema is also responsible for my death," he said, referring to Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, whom he had questioned over the border state's drugs problem during the minister's visit to a village.

Thereafter, Gulzar Singh alleged, the police took him aside and put a lot of pressure on him to apologise after he questioned the leader of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/punjab-man-gulzar-singh-dies-by-suicide-days-after-raising-drug-issue-blames-aap-minister-harpal-singh-cheema-12016024

Politicians n police must be having nexus... that's why he has been harassed for exposing the truth. 😢

Low flying drones have been caught in border areas delivering banned stuff from across the border.

Originally posted by: Sutapasima

Low flying drones have been caught in border areas delivering banned stuff from across the border.