Chandigarh: Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into an alleged drug trade operating from Punjab’s prisons with purported government protection.
Jakhar has also called for an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into suspected money laundering linked to the drug trade. He cited, among other matters, the alleged recovery of a large amount of money from a drug inspector arrested on charges related to drug sales.
In his letter, Jakhar said investigations by central agencies were necessary to protect Punjab from the drug menace. He accused the Bhagwant Mann-led government of failing to curb the problem.
The demand comes amid renewed political exchanges over drug trafficking and gangster activity in Punjab. On Thursday, Shah criticised the state government over these issues, while the Union home ministry also sought an explanation from Punjab’s chief secretary regarding several recent incidents in the state.
The allegations raised by Jakhar have not been independently established.
