New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP and former Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Punjab government over the law and order situation in the state, alleging that the administration has completely failed to control rising crime.

In a post on X, Maliwal claimed that law and order in Punjab had “completely collapsed” and accused the state government of failing to maintain control over prisons while crime continued to escalate on the streets.

“On one hand, this is the condition of Punjab’s jails. Prisoners are creating chaos, vandalising property, and setting things on fire. They all appear to have mobile phones in their hands as well. In Punja’s jails, inmates are being given VIP treatment,” she wrote.

Referring to the recent killing of a police officer in Amritsar, she said: “On the other hand, in Amritsar, a Punjab Police ASI on duty was murdered in broad daylight.”

Earlier in the day, a Punjab Police Assistant Sub-Inspector was shot dead in Amritsar district’s Majithia as unidentified bike-borne assailants opened fire at him while he was on his way to duty. The attackers reportedly fled the spot after raining bullets on ASI Joga Singh.

Maliwal further alleged that crime in Punjab was steadily rising and prisoners were operating beyond the control of authorities.

“Crime is continuing to rise in Punjab, prisoners are beyond control, and the Punjab Chief Minister has abandoned his responsibilities and accepted subservience to Arvind Kejriwal. It is shameful,” she said in the post.

The remarks come amid a fresh political row over the law-and-order situation in Punjab, with opposition leaders targeting the Aam Aadmi Party government over allegations of deteriorating security and prison administration.

Punjab has witnessed repeated political sparring over law and order in recent months, with opposition parties raising concerns over incidents of violence and the functioning of correctional facilities in the state.

–IANS

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