Punjab Returning to Dark 90s Era, Says Randhawa After Police Officer Killed

Chandigarh, May 24, 2026: The recent incidents of open rebellion, vandalism, and arson by inmates inside jails, along with the shooting death of an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in Fatehgarh Churian, have once again exposed the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab. Expressing deep concern over the continuously worsening conditions, former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and Member of Parliament from Gurdaspur, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that Punjab is currently passing through an extremely sensitive phase and that the situation is beginning to resemble the turbulent 1990s once again. He warned that if immediate steps are not taken, the coming days could become even more dangerous.
Randhawa stated that gangsters have effectively taken control of Punjab’s jails. He pointed out that prisoners are openly indulging in hooliganism, vandalism, and arson inside prisons, while videos show inmates possessing mobile phones, clearly indicating the complete failure of the jail administration. He alleged that criminals are being provided VIP facilities inside Punjab’s prisons.
At the same time, Punjab Police ASI Joga Singh, who was on duty in Amritsar, was shot dead in broad daylight. The incident occurred near village Hamza on the Fatehgarh Churian Road and has shaken the entire state. Randhawa said that if police officers themselves are not safe, one can easily imagine the condition of ordinary citizens.
He demanded that the Punjab Government provide every possible financial assistance, appropriate government compensation, and a government job to one member of the family of the martyred ASI Joga Singh. He also called for the immediate arrest of the accused and the strictest possible punishment for the culprits.
Randhawa further stated that crime is continuously increasing in Punjab and that people are being forced to live in an atmosphere of fear. Criminals no longer fear the law, and the government has completely failed in maintaining law and order. He added that Punjab’s situation is gradually turning into that of the 1990s, when both police personnel and common citizens were regularly targeted.
He urged the government to take immediate, concrete, and effective steps to preserve peace, communal harmony, and law and order in Punjab; otherwise, the situation could become even more serious. Randhawa said that Punjab now needs a safe environment, and for that, the time has come to remove the Aam Aadmi Party government from power. He appealed to the people of Punjab to come forward and strengthen the Congress party in order to ensure their own security.