Bathinda: Former Union minister and BJP functionary Ravneet Singh Bittu on Tuesday alleged that Mansa police detained him while he was on his way to the Mansa civil hospital to enquire about those injured in the shooting incident in which anti-drug activist Parvinder Jhotta was shot dead.Taking a dig at the AAP govt, Bittu said that after he personally visited the civil hospital to meet the injured and enquire about their condition, police took him away in a vehicle from the back door of the hospital.Bittu held the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP govt responsible for failing to protect the lives of ordinary citizens and questioned the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab.He said that Parvinder Jhota had openly spoken against drug trafficking and reportedly declared a war against drug smugglers.According to reports, there is only one drug inspector for three districts. Bittu questioned how govt intended to tackle the drug menace effectively when the necessary enforcement staff was inadequate.“If complaints about the open sale of drugs were repeatedly raised, why was the administration unable to take effective action? Where was the enforcement machinery when people were openly drawing attention to this menace?” Bittu asked.Punjab Bandh on Oct 15 (BOX)The action committee formed after Parwinder Singh’s killing has called for a Punjab bandh on Oct 15. The committee also demanded that the investigation into the case be handed over to the CBI and that the role of drug peddlers be probed. The committee reportedly stated that until their demands are met, the protests will continue.
