Bathinda: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ordered the immediate transfer of the entire staff of the Sadar Police Station in Bathinda on Sunday, April 5, 2026. The decisive action followed a public grievance meeting held at the Balwant Gargi Auditorium, where local leaders and residents raised serious allegations regarding the police’s failure to curb drug-related deaths in the region. Lakha Singh, the Sarpanch of Gulabgarh village, personally informed the Chief Minister that despite repeated complaints about rampant drug trafficking leading to multiple fatalities in his and neighbouring villages, the local police had remained inactive.
Visibly stern during the meeting with workers, leaders, and administrative officials, Chief Minister Mann questioned why enforcement was stalling despite his government’s clear mandate against narcotics. “I want action against drugs, so why is it not happening? Why are people still forced to complain?” Mann remarked, emphasizing that delays in such sensitive matters would not be tolerated. While the Chief Minister initially suggested sending the personnel to Pathankot, the logistics were later refined by senior police officials to keep the movement within the administrative range.
Bathinda Range DIG Harjeet Singh confirmed that all employees of the Sadar Police Station have been transferred to Mansa district to ensure a complete overhaul of the station’s personnel. The DIG stated that new staff would be appointed immediately to restore public confidence and maintain law and order. Furthermore, a formal inquiry has been initiated to investigate why the Sadar Police Station failed to act on the specific intelligence provided by the Gulabgarh Sarpanch, with officials promising accountability for any professional negligence or collusion discovered during the probe.
