India, Oct. 17 -- The Centre on Friday sought a detailed report from the Punjab government in two cases of drug-linked killings and a "suicide" by an addict's father, igniting a verbal duel between Union home minister Amit Shah and chief minister Bhagwant Mann.

The ministry of home affairs (MHA), in three separate letters to the Punjab chief secretary, demanded a response over October 13 daylight killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh, alias Jhota, in Mansa, and murder of 40-year-old Bikramjit Singh in Batala by alleged drug peddlers on October 15. The state government has also been told to furnish details in connection with Dalit man's alleged suicide after his "public spat" with state finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema during ...