Kapurthala, April 6 An elderly couple from Sultanpur Lodhi here has claimed that they have lost four sons to drugs, while the fifth and last surviving son is also bedridden due to a severe liver infection.
However, the general secretary of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, Baltej Pannu, refuted the claims of four deaths in a single household caused by drugs, asserting that the facts present a very different and more nuanced picture.
In a statement, Pannu claimed that a thorough field verification revealed that these deaths occurred over a period of more than eight years and were due to entirely different causes.
He said one son died approximately eight years ago due to an alleged drug overdose. Another son died approximately seven years ago due to fire and burn injuries.
"A third son died seven years ago in jail, where he was facing two criminal cases, including one under the NDPS Act. The fourth son died two years ago due to alleged liver failure as a chronic alcoholic," Pannu claimed.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Manjit Kaur in Sultanpur Lodhi claimed that she has lost her four sons to drugs and made a fervent appeal to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to save her fifth son.
"I am the mother of five sons. Four have already died because of drugs," said Kaur, showing her bedridden son to reporters. "If he dies, where will I take his children?" she asked with folded hands.
Sonu (32), father of a two-year-old son and a six-month-old daughter, is suffering from a severe liver infection and is unable to speak or eat, his family members told reporters. "His liver is completely damaged. He does not eat anything," said one of his family members. His father Joginderpal Singh asked the government to rid the area of the problem of drugs.
Several women assembled in their Pandori Mohalla in Sultanpur Lodhi on Sunday, urging the state government to act against 'chitta', which was freely available here. Many youths in the area have become addicts, they claimed.
"I urge CM Bhagwant Mann with folded hands to help us. Save our fifth son," Manjit Kaur said.
Kaur said the family spent Rs 7 lakh on the treatment of their eldest son but he could not survive. Three months later, her second son died and a few years later, two other sons also died because of drug addiction, she claimed.
"'Chitta' should be finished from our area here. Police should conduct checking where drugs are sold," said Kaur with tears in her eyes.
Punjab AAP leader Pannu said the surviving son currently being referred to in media reports is suffering from multiple health issues.
He has a case registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and was arrested with recovery of narcotic substances. He was subsequently convicted by a court in the same case on November 29, 2025.
"The individual is a drug abuser and has been enrolled at an OOAT (Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment) centre for de-addiction treatment, where he was administered medication on March 30. Considering his serious medical condition, he has now been referred to Amritsar for specialised treatment," said Pannu.
Emphasising that the situation has been misrepresented, he stated, "No recent drug deaths have been reported in the area. The attempt to portray this as a single, recent drug-related tragedy is misleading and not supported by facts."
Highlighting the ongoing crackdown, Pannu said, "Punjab Police has acted proactively in the same mohalla, registering four NDPS cases in recent days and arresting active drug peddlers."
He underlined the scale of enforcement in Kapurthala, stating, "Over 1,300 FIRs have been registered under the NDPS Act, leading to the arrest of more than 1,637 drug peddlers and suppliers."
More than 900 individuals have been admitted to de-addiction centres, while over 2,125 drug addicts have been enrolled in OOAT centres for treatment."
He further added, "More than 605 individuals have successfully undergone de-addiction and sought immunity under relevant section of the NDPS Act.
Properties worth over Rs 1.3 crore have been frozen under the NDPS Act in the last one month alone, he said.
"Based on tips received through the Safe Punjab Helpline, 629 FIRs have been registered and 753 accused involved in drug peddling have been arrested," said Pannu.
Making an appeal to the public, he added that "families must come forward and bring individuals struggling with addiction for timely de-addiction treatment. Community support is crucial in eliminating the drug menace".