New Delhi: High drama unfolded in Punjab’s Mansa district on Friday after an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) was allegedly found consuming ‘chitta’—a cheap, synthetic form of heroin—during work hours. Ironically, the district has been shaken by agitations since the killing of anti-drug crusader Parvinder Singh Jhota earlier this month.
The ASI was allegedly caught in the act by locals at Budhlada’s ITI Chowk consuming the synthetic opioid, called ‘chitta’ for its white, powdery appearance. “We received information that a crowd had caught a Punjab Police officer who was seen consuming a drug, and that the law and order situation was escalating. So, we immediately sent senior officials and I too visited the spot to de-escalate the matter,” said Mansa Superintendent of Police (SP) Narinder Singh.
Once at the spot, a heated argument ensued with locals as seen on viral videos across social media platforms like X and Instagram. According to officials, agitated locals broke glass panes of the shops in the area and took out protest rallies against the administration.
“We detained the ASI from the spot and conducted a test whose results showed that he was morphine-positive,” said the SP.
The ASI was arrested; a First Information Report has been registered against him under Section 27 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act that deals with the punishment for the consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
The police have identified the ASI as Sahejpreet Singh, who served at Mohali district. “He was put on duty like many other officers from other districts after the law and order situation worsened in Mansa,” said the SP.
Inevitably, the matter turned political, with Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia accusing the Aam Aadmi Party government of not taking strong steps to stop the drug abuse in the state. “Bhagwant Mann claims drug abuse has declined, but who will stop drugs when the protectors themselves are allegedly involved? Punjab has awakened!” he wrote in a post on X.
The reported arrest of a Punjab Police ASI at Budhlada's ITI Chowk for allegedly selling and consuming Chitta raises serious questions on the AAP regime.
When protectors turn peddlers, what is left of law and order in Punjab?
Is Guru-Dokhi @BhagwantMann govt merely incapable of… pic.twitter.com/uboLXG7I6I
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) October 30, 2026
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)