ABOHAR, MAY 11 — An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) with the Punjab Police has been placed under suspension and faces criminal charges after a viral video purportedly showed him purchasing drugs while on duty in a government vehicle. The official, identified as ASI Balwinder Singh, was allegedly caught on camera conducting the transaction from within a “112” emergency response patrol car.
The incident took place on Seed Farm Road in Abohar, an area that local authorities have identified as a frequent site for drug trafficking. Footage from the scene appears to show the ASI handing over ₹500 to a youth, later identified as Jashan Singh, in exchange for suspected contraband. While the youth on the motorcycle has been identified, police stated that they are still working to determine the identity of a second individual involved in the exchange.
“The war against drugs will remain uncompromising,” stated Superintendent of Police Ashwant Singh. He affirmed that no individual, regardless of their rank or position within the force, would be shielded from legal consequences if found complicit in illegal activities.
The video has triggered significant political backlash, with Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar bringing the matter to the attention of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the Director General of Police. Jakhar questioned the effectiveness of the state’s anti-drug initiatives if the very personnel tasked with enforcement are participating in the trade.
Police officials maintained that ASI Balwinder Singh has been absconding since the video gained traction on social media. They asserted that multiple teams have been deployed to track his movements and bring him into custody. The department declared that the ASI has been formally booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as the investigation continues.
