‘Bulldozer Justice’ Comes to Panjab, Critics Raise Legal Concerns

Panjab intensified its ‘War on Drugs’ by demolishing alleged traffickers’ houses in Ludhiana, Patiala, and Phillaur to disrupt illicit trade. Among the first structures razed was that of Sonu in Talwandi village, Ludhiana, with police calling it a landmark step. Similarly, Patiala authorities bulldozed the residence of Rinki, who faces over ten Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases, marking a bulldozer model reminiscent of operations in Uttar Pradesh and other Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states. Additional demolitions in Phillaur targeted property built on gram panchayat (village council) land by Jasvir Singh, alias Sheera, and Bholi, both accused of repeated narcotics offences. Meanwhile, a viral video capturing alleged drug peddler Kulbir Kaur in Ludhiana proclaiming, ‘I will continue to sell drugs,’ prompted officials to raze part of her house. In November 2024, the Supreme Court of India (SCI) had laid down pan-India guidelines for property demolition, ruling that an executive cannot become a judge and cautioning states against collective punishment. The SCI insists on 15 days’ notice, reasoned orders, and videographic documentation, emphasizing the principle that even accused persons retain basic rights. Clearly, Panjab government has violated the SCI orders. Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) criticized the bulldozer actions as a worrying trend bypassing democratic norms, urging the govt. to adopt proper legal processes. While officials tout these measures as necessary to curb trafficking, critics argue that blanket demolitions risk punishing entire families and infringing on constitutional safeguards. Meanwhile, border police stations in Amritsar and Gurdaspur, having faced grenade attacks in 2024, have installed barbed wire, corrugated metal sheets, and ‘bunker tractors,’ shutting roads at night to thwart suspected ‘militants’. At least 12 grenades have been lobbed at police facilities since December 2024 allegedly by operatives from outfits like Babbar Khalsa International, prompting heightened security.