The development comes at a time when the debate over the film has already reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, while a separate controversy involving the disappearance of a convicted former police officer in the Jaswant Singh Khalra murder case has further heightened political and public attention.

In a social media post, Bittu uploaded several photographs showing heavily armed men carrying AK-47 rifles and drum magazines. Referring to the images, he said they were not from a modern-day photoshoot but from Punjab’s years of insurgency.

The minister questioned who these individuals were and recalled a period when, according to him, fear had gripped the state and civilians frequently became targets of violence. He said families who lived through that phase still remember the uncertainty and trauma associated with those years.

Bittu also stressed that violence and weapons could never represent Punjab’s future and argued that the state now needs peace, development and social harmony rather than narratives that revive memories of militancy.

His remarks come amid criticism and debate over Sutlej, a film involving Diljit Dosanjh that has sparked reactions from different quarters. While supporters have defended the project, critics have raised concerns over its themes and portrayal of historical events.

The dispute has now reached the courts. A resident of Mohali, Sarwan Singh, has filed a petition seeking the restoration of the film on OTT platforms. The matter is expected to draw legal scrutiny as stakeholders continue to debate issues related to content, historical representation and public sentiment.

At the same time, attention has shifted to another high-profile case linked to Punjab’s past.

Authorities are attempting to trace former DSP Jaspal Singh, who was convicted in the kidnapping and murder case of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Officials confirmed that the Nabha Open Agriculture Jail administration has written to Hoshiarpur Police asking them to locate Singh after concerns emerged regarding his whereabouts.

Police officials in Hoshiarpur have acknowledged receiving communication related to the matter.

Jaspal Singh was serving a life sentence in the Khalra murder case and was released on bail in May 2023 after furnishing a personal bond. His release was linked to legal provisions arising from delays in the consideration of a remission proposal pending before the Governor.

According to prison officials, the Punjab government had forwarded a proposal seeking premature release of Jaspal Singh in September 2022. As no final decision was taken for an extended period, legal provisions and previous court directions were cited while granting him temporary relief.

The case has once again brought focus to the 1995 abduction and murder of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a prominent human rights activist known for exposing alleged illegal cremations during Punjab’s militancy period.

The Khalra case remains one of the most significant human rights cases in Punjab’s history. In 2005, a special CBI court convicted former DSP Jaspal Singh and several other police personnel. Subsequent proceedings before the Punjab and Haryana High Court resulted in modifications to some convictions and sentences, while life imprisonment remained in force for key accused.

The simultaneous emergence of the Sutlej controversy and renewed attention on the Khalra case has revived public discussion around Punjab’s militancy-era history, with political leaders, legal institutions and civil society groups closely watching developments.

Further proceedings in both matters are awaited.