BJP MP Harbhajan Singh Shares 'Zombie Drug' Video as Punjab Footage, Punjab Police Says It's From Rajasthan

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh has come under criticism after sharing a viral video showing two men appearing disoriented and presenting it in the context of Punjab’s drug problem. Punjab Police later clarified that the video was not recorded in Punjab and was actually from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan.

The video shows two turbaned men apparently struggling to walk and behaving unusually on a roadside. It was widely circulated on social media with claims that the men were under the influence of a so-called “zombie drug.” Harbhajan Singh shared the footage while raising concerns about drug abuse and its impact on Punjab’s youth.

Soon after the video gained attention, Punjab Police responded with a clarification, stating that the footage had been incorrectly associated with Punjab. According to the police, the incident shown in the video took place in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. The clarification triggered a political exchange, with Aam Aadmi Party leaders questioning the BJP MP’s decision to associate the video with Punjab. The incident has added to an ongoing political dispute over the drug situation in the state, with both the BJP and AAP regularly trading allegations over how the issue is being handled.

The “zombie drug” description attached to the video has also not been independently established. The behaviour seen in the footage does not, by itself, prove that the individuals had consumed a particular narcotic or synthetic drug. Without medical, forensic or police confirmation, attributing such behaviour to a specific substance can be misleading. The episode has once again drawn attention to the risks of sharing viral videos without verifying their original location and context. Videos can quickly be reposted with incorrect descriptions, dates or locations, particularly when they are used in politically sensitive discussions.

Punjab continues to face political and public debate over drug abuse, but the Rajasthan-origin footage does not provide evidence about the situation in Punjab. The latest controversy instead highlights the need to verify the source and circumstances of viral material before using it to make claims about a particular state or community. Punjab Police has made clear that the viral video shared in connection with Punjab was actually recorded in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. The incident has subsequently become part of a wider debate over drug-related concerns, political messaging and misinformation on social media.