Lawlessness Grows Under Bhagwant Mann Government as Criminals Dictate Social Norms
By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: A disturbing rise in anti-social and so-called moral policing gangs across Punjab has triggered widespread fear among citizens, with alarming parallels being drawn to the dark days of militancy in the 1980s. Operating with impunity, these self-styled guardians of morality are issuing public threats, indulging in violence, and enforcing their own codes on culture, dress, and behaviour—virtually unchallenged by the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government.
The recent murder of social media influencer Karam Kaur alias Kanchan Kumari has sent shockwaves across the state. She was allegedly killed by a gang led by self-proclaimed Nihang Amritpal Singh Mehron, who had been operating for over two years, threatening and humiliating women online under the guise of upholding "Punjabi culture." His gang is also accused of publicly intimidating influencers Amanpreet Kaur and Priti Luthra of Amritsar, forcing them to issue apologies. Shockingly, law enforcement had taken no action against Mehron prior to the murder, despite his brazen activities being well-documented on social media.
The case has thrown the spotlight back on Punjab’s deteriorating law and order, with observers noting chilling similarities to the 1980s—when under the cover of militancy, violent gangs enforced dress codes, banned social events, and carried out brutal crimes in the name of religious morality. Just like then, society is now once again being divided between those silent or supportive of these hardline groups, and those opposing their vigilante actions.
This is not an isolated incident. In 2022, a moral policing group led by another Nihang, Mann Singh Akali, attacked the owners of the popular ‘Kulhad Pizza’ outlet in Jalandhar, after a private video of the couple went viral. The victims, Sehaj Arora and his wife, were hounded and eventually left the country. Despite public outcry, the state government failed to act decisively, emboldening such groups further.
In another recent incident on June 16, 2024, a Nihang in Patiala chopped off both hands of a man accused of drug addiction. No legal process was followed—just street justice executed in cold blood. Such attacks, once rare, are now becoming disturbingly frequent.
Critics argue that this erosion of rule of law is a direct outcome of the state's tacit tolerance of lawless behaviour—especially when the government itself is accused of "bulldozer justice" and overreach, weakening its own moral authority to rein in vigilantes.
Meanwhile, street crime across Punjab has also surged. Chain snatchings, highway robberies, mob attacks, and public molestation incidents are being reported almost daily. A sense of insecurity is growing even in smaller towns and rural areas, where residents say the police response is either delayed or absent.
Citizens are now questioning whether the much-promised "Badlav" (change) touted by AAP has instead turned into a law-and-order breakdown. The very ideals of public safety and civil liberty seem to be under siege.
Despite multiple red flags and repeated acts of violence, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has remained silent on the issue. His government has neither condemned the acts of these moral policing gangs nor shown urgency in re-establishing rule of law. Critics say this silence is not just dangerous—it is complicit.
Legal experts argue that existing laws are sufficient to tackle obscenity, defamation, or online abuse through judicial means—not through lynchings or threats. The failure to arrest or prosecute these criminals not only encourages lawlessness but also threatens civil society itself.
Punjab today stands at a critical crossroads. Either the government reclaims its constitutional responsibility and acts firmly against vigilante groups, or it risks taking the state back into a dark chapter of fear, violence, and social collapse.
The murder of Karam Kaur should serve as a wake-up call—not just for the government but for society at large. If unchallenged, these groups will further normalize violence under the pretext of morality, undermining the very foundations of a democratic, pluralistic Punjab.