Punjab drug menace: Video of child consuming drugs in Punjab goes viral, sparks outrage; SAD slams AAP govt
PTC News Desk: Days after the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa sparked a political controversy in Punjab, a video allegedly showing a 12- to 13-year-old child consuming drugs in Kapurthala has raised fresh concerns about the state’s drug problem.
The video has drawn attention to how drugs may be reaching children at such a young age and whether other children in the area are also at risk. It has also put the Bhagwant Mann government’s anti-drug campaign under fresh scrutiny, as the issue remains a major political concern in Punjab ahead of next year’s elections.
Congress leaders have protested against the growing drug menace, wearing black cloth around their necks as a mark of protest.
The video, which is widely circulating on social media, allegedly shows a young child consuming an intoxicating substance. However, the child’s exact age and the circumstances in which the video was recorded have not yet been officially confirmed.
Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also reacted strongly to the footage, describing it as a horrifying sight.
"This horrifying sight is that of a 10-year-old child from Kapurthala snorting drugs with a tin foil and a lighter in hand like an expert," she said.
Badal accused the AAP government of allowing the crisis to deepen, declaring, "Drugs isn't just a crisis anymore, it is the complete, systemic destruction of Punjab's future under your watch."
Taking a swipe at the government's anti-drug campaign, she alleged that the drug mafia had been given a free hand to target vulnerable and impoverished children.
This horrifying sight is that of a 10-year-old child from Kapurthala snorting drugs with a tin foil and a lighter in hand like an expert…
Drugs isn’t just a crisis anymore, it is the complete, systemic destruction of Punjab’s future under your watch, Guru Dokhi @BhagwantMann !
That’s why we have been repeatedly saying that @AamAadmiParty launched 'Yudh Youth Virudh' in Punjab and today it’s seeped down to this level!
@AAPPunjab is giving a free rein to the drug mafia to target our most vulnerable, impoverished children. This is an unforgivable betrayal of Punjab’s Mawan-Dhiyan!
#PunjabDrugMenace
— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) October 23, 2026
Child admitted to hospital
After the video surfaced, the police and local authorities took action. Officials said the child had been admitted to a hospital for treatment.
Doctors are expected to conduct medical tests after providing initial treatment. These tests will help assess the child’s condition and determine the extent of exposure to the substance.
Jhota’s killing and viral video put drug problem in focus
The latest video has brought the issue of children’s safety into the debate over Punjab’s drug crisis. It has raised concerns about the availability of drugs among younger age groups and the risk of children becoming exposed to substance abuse.
Bawa Henry’s remarks have also raised questions about how narcotics are reaching children and whether the current measures are enough to stop them from accessing drugs.
Questions over government’s anti-drug campaign
The incident is likely to increase pressure on the state government to demonstrate whether its anti-drug campaign is working effectively, particularly in protecting children and other vulnerable groups.
While the child’s treatment remains the immediate priority, investigators will need to establish where the substance came from and whether anyone helped the child obtain it. So far, authorities have not officially identified anyone or any organised network as responsible.
The incident has highlighted the need for coordinated efforts by police, health officials, schools, families and community organisations to protect children from substance abuse.
With Jhota’s killing already triggering a political row over drugs in Punjab, the Kapurthala video has added to the debate over accountability, law enforcement and the effectiveness of the state’s anti-drug campaign.
- PTC NEWS
