October turned into a difficult month for the AAP government and the Punjab Police. Sensational murders, suspected drug-linked deaths, gang-related incidents and protests shook the state. All of this happened barely months before the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, putting law and order at the centre of political attention.
The month saw a string of shocking crimes across Punjab. These ranged from the killing of an anti-drug activist to the shooting of a man over a parking dispute. The spread of these cases across different districts made the issue a statewide concern rather than an isolated one.
Punjab Murders in October: The Cases That Shook the State
The most prominent case was the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa. His killing drew attention because he was known for speaking out against drugs in the state.
In another case, Nawab Khan was abducted and then killed on the Patiala-Sangrur highway. The incident added to the sense of insecurity on the state's highways.
In Amritsar, Amit Sabharwal was fatally shot following a dispute over scooter parking. The fact that a small everyday argument ended in a shooting raised questions about public safety.
The month also saw the murders of former sarpanches in Ludhiana and Bathinda. Attacks on former village heads pointed to a pattern of violence targeting local figures.
Drug Trade and Gang Violence: The Bigger Pattern
The original report notes that most of the murders stem from deeper problems linked to organised crime. Suspected drug-linked deaths and gang-related incidents were part of the same wave of violence that marked October.
These incidents did not stay limited to crime reports. They also triggered protests in the state, showing public anger over the situation.
Punjab Police Response and Arrests
The Punjab Police have defended their response to the crimes. According to the original report, the force pointed to multiple arrests in major murder cases and continued action against organised crime.
To put it plainly, the police position is that they are acting on these cases and not letting them go unaddressed. The arrests in the major murder cases form the core of that defence.
Why This Matters Before the 2027 Punjab Assembly Elections
The timing is the key issue here. These incidents came barely months before the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Law and order is now a live political question for the AAP government, which has to show it can keep the state safe.
For voters, the concern is simple and personal. A parking dispute turning into a shooting, an anti-drug activist being killed, and former village heads being murdered are the kinds of incidents that make people question whether the system is protecting them.
Our Take: Law and Order Will Be a Test for AAP in Punjab
In our view, the AAP government cannot treat October as just a bad month of crime statistics. The range of incidents — from Mansa to Amritsar, from Patiala-Sangrur to Ludhiana and Bathinda — shows the problem is spread across the state, not confined to one district.
The police deserve credit for making arrests in the major murder cases. But arrests after the fact do not answer the bigger question: why did so many violent incidents pile up in a single month? Suspected drug-linked deaths and gang violence point to problems that need sustained action, not just case-by-case responses.
With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, this is the issue the AAP government will be judged on. Voters will ask a direct question — is Punjab safer than it was? The government and the Punjab Police need to give a clear, honest answer, backed by visible results on the ground, not just statements defending their record.