📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / The Hermitage
Crime
Punjab Drug War: Son of Suicide Victim Gulzar Demands Compensation and Govt Job
✍️ India Today
🗓 09 Sep 2026, 10:48 PM
👁 22
Gulzar’s son, speaking after his father’s suicide linked to the Punjab drug crisis, says authorities offered a compromise that includes compensation and a government post.
Punjab authorities are facing fresh scrutiny after the son of Gulzar, a man who took his own life amid the state’s ongoing drug war, alleged that officials proposed a settlement involving monetary compensation and a government job. The claim was made public in an interview where the son said the offer was presented as a compromise to resolve the family’s grievances.
According to the son, the proposed compensation is intended to address the financial distress caused by his father’s death, while the promised government position is portrayed as a means of providing long‑term security for the family. He added that the arrangement was communicated by local officials shortly after the suicide.
The revelation adds another layer to the controversy surrounding Punjab’s anti‑drug operations, which have already drawn criticism for alleged heavy‑handed tactics. Law‑enforcement agencies have not yet responded to requests for comment on the specific allegations of a settlement.
If verified, the claim could prompt a review of how authorities handle cases linked to the drug crisis, especially those involving families of victims. Stakeholders are calling for transparency to ensure that any compensation or employment offers are made in accordance with legal and ethical standards.
According to the son, the proposed compensation is intended to address the financial distress caused by his father’s death, while the promised government position is portrayed as a means of providing long‑term security for the family. He added that the arrangement was communicated by local officials shortly after the suicide.
The revelation adds another layer to the controversy surrounding Punjab’s anti‑drug operations, which have already drawn criticism for alleged heavy‑handed tactics. Law‑enforcement agencies have not yet responded to requests for comment on the specific allegations of a settlement.
If verified, the claim could prompt a review of how authorities handle cases linked to the drug crisis, especially those involving families of victims. Stakeholders are calling for transparency to ensure that any compensation or employment offers are made in accordance with legal and ethical standards.