Overview

• Four men in their mid-20s from Lakho Ke Behram in Ferozepur died on September 29–30, leading residents to block the Ferozepur–Fazilka highway with the bodies to demand action against drug networks.
• Villagers allege psychotropic medicines are sold openly at seven local medical shops and claim narcotics are delivered to homes, accusing police of inaction and complicity.
• Police say the state has expanded de-addiction centres and launched an anti-drug mission, while the Ferozepur detective SP maintains two victims were long-term ill and that overdose is not confirmed in all cases.
• Authorities report one body was cremated before police were informed and other families declined post-mortems, limiting forensic confirmation of the causes of death.
• Times of India also reported a separate death in Hoshiarpur this week and cited NCRB data showing Punjab recorded the highest drug-related deaths in 2023 with 89 fatalities.