Punjab Police fact-check Harbhajan Singh’s viral ‘zombie drug’ video; footage traced to Rajasthan

Former India cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh has landed in a controversy after sharing a viral video that he presented as an example of the drug crisis affecting Punjab’s youth. The video showed two men appearing to behave erratically, prompting comparisons with the so-called “zombie” effect associated with drug abuse. However, Punjab Police later clarified that the footage was not from Punjab but from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan.Harbhajan shared the video on X while expressing anguish over the alleged impact of addiction on Punjab. He criticised successive governments for what he described as the deterioration of the state and its younger generation, urging people to act before it was too late. He also appealed to people to “save Punjab” and its youth from addiction.ਨਜ਼ਰ ਲੱਗ ਗਈ ਯਾਰ ਸਾਡੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ… ਸਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਕੀ ਹਾਲ ਬਣਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਦਾ। ਰੋਣਾ ਆਉਂਦਾ ਏ ਇਹ ਸਭ ਦੇਖ ਕੇ। ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ ਦਿਓ ਮੇਰੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ… ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰੋ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ। ਕਿੱਥੇ ਲੈ ਆਏ ਓ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ?ਜਿਹੜਾ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਕਦੇ ਚੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਕਲਾ, ਹਿੰਮਤ ਤੇ ਬਹਾਦਰੀ ਲਈ ਜਾਣਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਸੀ, ਅੱਜ ਉਸੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ… pic.twitter.com/RAp3aYy0i2— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) August 10, 2026 Very sad to see the situation of Punjab . Punjab and its youth deserve better. This issue needs honesty, accountability, and urgent action—not denial. https://t.co/Vb6si8eAaj— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) August 10, 2026 The post soon attracted attention, with the location of the viral clip coming under scrutiny. Punjab Police responded directly to Harbhajan’s post and said the video had actually been recorded in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. The police stressed that the footage had no connection with Punjab Police or an incident in Punjab.The video being circulated is from Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan—not Punjab—and has no connection with Punjab Police.A Punjabi audio track does not make an incident a Punjab incident.We urge users and social media accounts to verify the facts and location before posting… https://t.co/bNHwjXVXsC— Punjab Police India (@PunjabPoliceInd) August 10, 2026 Punjab Police also cautioned social media users against assuming the location of an incident simply because a video contains Punjabi audio. “A Punjabi audio track does not make an incident a Punjab incident,” the police said while urging users and social media accounts to verify both the facts and location before sharing such material.The episode has consequently sparked a wider debate over the responsibility of public figures when sharing viral content online. While the issue of drug addiction remains a serious concern and a politically sensitive subject in Punjab, the police clarification highlighted how videos circulated on social media can be stripped of their original context and attributed to another location.

In a recent social media post, ex-cricketer Harbhajan Singh highlighted the severe effects of drug addiction on Punjab's youth through a video. The Punjab Police quickly responded by identifying the clip as originating from Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar, thus having no association with Punjab. They urged citizens to refrain from jumping to conclusions based on language alone and reminded everyone to practice responsible sharing and fact-checking online.