A 23-year-old man was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a vacant plot on Basti Danishmanda Road, Jalandhar, on Tuesday morning. The body, lying beside a syringe, water bottle, and a motorcycle, has raised strong suspicion of a possible drug overdose.
The deceased has been identified as Jaskaran Singh alias Karan, a resident of Gillan village. Local police from Basti Bawa Khel police station reached the spot immediately after receiving the information and shifted the body to Civil Hospital for postmortem examination.
Eyewitnesses Found the Body Early Morning
According to eyewitnesses Deepak and Rahul, who were passing through the area in the morning, they noticed a man lying motionless in the open plot. Upon closer inspection, they found a syringe and a water bottle placed near the body, resting against a wall.
“We called nearby shopkeepers, and then collectively informed the police control room,” said Deepak.
Locals claim that this particular vacant plot has become a frequent hangout spot for drug users, especially during late evening hours. The community suspects that Jaskaran’s death could be the result of substance abuse — a rising menace in Punjab’s urban areas.
Police Investigation Initiated; Forensic Probe Likely
Investigating Officer ASI Neela Ram from Basti Bawa Khel police station stated that initial inspection did not reveal any external injury marks, but the presence of a syringe strongly suggests possible drug injection.
“We have informed the deceased’s family. Postmortem will confirm the cause of death. For now, it appears to be a suspected overdose,” ASI Ram said.
Police have seized the syringe, water bottle, and the motorcycle for forensic analysis. The empty plot has now become the center of a local debate, as residents complain about the lack of monitoring and patrolling in such vulnerable spaces.
Victim Was a Painter by Profession
Jaskaran’s mother, in her statement to the police, said that her son worked as a wall painter and had not been feeling well in recent days. On Tuesday morning, he left home for work as usual, but never returned.
“We got the heartbreaking news from the police that his body was found near Basti Danishmanda. We don’t know how he ended up there,” she said with tears in her eyes.
The family is in shock, and neighbors have confirmed that Jaskaran had no known enmity or violent history. However, some admitted that he had started keeping to himself in the last few months.
Drug Abuse in Jalandhar: A Growing Crisis
This incident is the latest in a series of suspected drug-related deaths in Punjab, especially in urban centers like Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Ludhiana. While the state government claims to be actively pursuing anti-drug operations, locals say ground-level enforcement remains weak.
Vacant plots, abandoned buildings, and unmonitored corners have become hotspots for illegal drug use, especially among unemployed youth and laborers. NGOs working on de-addiction point out that the availability of cheap synthetic drugs and injectable narcotics has increased in Tier-2 cities.
“Unless the police and administration jointly reclaim these public spaces, we will continue to lose young lives like Jaskaran,” said a local social worker.
Community Demands Surveillance and Clean-Up of High-Risk Areas
Following the discovery of Jaskaran’s body, local shopkeepers and residents have urged the administration to fence or monitor the vacant plot and install CCTV cameras. They demand regular police patrolling and community outreach to prevent such tragedies.
Residents also allege that drug peddlers often roam freely in nearby areas and that several complaints have been ignored in the past.
Postmortem Report Awaited
Police officials have confirmed that a detailed autopsy and toxicology report will determine the exact cause of death. If it confirms a drug overdose, this will be added to the growing tally of youth deaths caused by Punjab’s ongoing narcotics crisis.
No FIR has been registered so far, and police are treating the matter as a suspicious death pending investigation.
Conclusion: Another Young Life Lost to Punjab’s Drug Problem?
Jaskaran Singh’s death — alone, in a vacant lot, with a syringe by his side — mirrors a disturbing pattern visible across Punjab’s urban heartlands. While official action plans and awareness drives continue, the ground reality points to an unchecked spread of drugs, especially among economically weaker, working-class youth.
Unless urgent measures are taken to clean up drug-infested zones, strengthen rehabilitation, and tighten ground surveillance, Jaskaran may not be the last such case — only the latest.
