NEW Delhi/CHANDIGARH, December 11 — Punjab Congress chief and Ludhiana MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Wednesday told the Lok Sabha that an “atmosphere of fear” had taken hold in Punjab, with gangsters openly issuing threats and extorting money from citizens.
Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Warring said people were receiving intimidation calls not only from within Punjab’s prisons but also from gangsters operating abroad. “Nobody feels safe. Gangsters are ruling the roost,” he said, accusing the state government of failing to protect residents.
He also alleged that criminal networks had infiltrated politics, claiming the Shiromani Akali Dal fielded a candidate “closely related to a gangster” in the Tarn Taran by-election.
Warring asked the Union Home Ministry to intervene, alleging that the Gujarat government was shielding notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. “Special orders have given him immunity from being taken by police from other states where he faces serious charges,” he said.
The Congress leader added that the threats had escalated to the point where not only civilians but “political leaders and senior officers” were now receiving ransom calls.
