{
  "id": 15079593,
  "title": "Amit Shah: Centre will seek report from Punjab on Jhota murder; Bhagwant Mann, Arvind Kejriwal hit back",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/amit-shah-centre-will-seek-report-from-punjab-on-jhota-murder",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T00:37:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/amit-shah-punjab-jhota-murder-bhagwant-mann-arvind-kejriwal-10925302/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday that the central government will request a report from the Punjab government regarding the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa and a suicide case in Dirba. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal responded to Shah's comments, which were made in light of a meeting Mann was set to preside over with senior Punjab police officers. The incidents have sparked concerns over drug trafficking, gangsterism, and organized crime in the state.\n\nOn X, Shah criticized the Mann government for failing to safeguard the people of Punjab and asserted that the state is grappling with mounting threats from drug abuse and organized crime. He urged the government to provide answers. Mann retorted, questioning the central government's role in combating drug trafficking and security concerns. He highlighted that the Border Security Force (BSF) has jurisdiction over the 50-kilometer border belt, and significant quantities of heroin are being intercepted at Gujarat's Kandla port.\n\nKejriwal stated, \"You people are spreading drugs through Adani Port in Punjab! You people who provided protection in Sabarmati Jail to those spreading gangsters in Punjab. You people who, from 2007-2017, collaborated with the Chitta Party to spread drugs in Punjab. And now, joining hands with that same party again, dreaming of earning billions of rupees by selling drugs in Punjab?\" He further accused the central government of having been in power for years in states with the highest drug-related issues.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Central government to seek Punjab report on Jhota murder and Dirba suicide case",
    "Arvind Kejriwal accused central government of colluding with drug-related parties in Punjab"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The central government's demand for a state report intensifies the political friction between federal authorities and Punjab leadership over responsibility for organized crime and drug trafficking.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Centre seeks Punjab reports on drug-linked killings, suicide",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/centre-seeks-punjab-reports-on-drug-linked-killings-suicide",
        "published": "2026-10-16T18:43:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}