Chandigarh, Oct 13 Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh alias Jhota, known for raising his voice against drug abuse and the illegal sale of addictive substances at chemist shops, was shot dead in broad daylight in a busy market in Punjab’s Mansa district as the public watched in horror on Tuesday.
Police have launched a manhunt for Ashwani Kumar, the medical store owner who opened fire on the activist and his companions, after allegedly being enraged as they questioned him for selling addictive drugs to an elderly man.
Following the incident, tensions simmered in Mansa town as the activist’s supporters vandalised the medical shop, while Jhota’s family refused to cremate his body in protest. A heavy police force has been deployed outside the Civil Hospital, where his body was kept.
The murder drew widespread condemnation from political leaders, who cornered the ruling AAP government over the alleged deteriorating law and order in the state.
The accused Ashwani Kumar was the same person who was garlanded with shoes and paraded in the market by Jhota and his supporters in 2023, after a man was caught with banned capsules allegedly procured from the latter’s medical shop. Back then, an FIR was registered against Ashwani Kumar, while Jhota was booked for assault and trespassing.
Speaking to reporters, the activist’s aggrieved father slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, alleging that drugs are sold openly in the state and his son was killed while fighting the menace.
“He was killed by drug traffickers. We demand that the Government of India dismiss the Punjab government. Drugs are openly sold here. My son Parvinder Singh Jhota was killed by drug traffickers,” his elderly father told reporters.
He said the family will not cremate Jhota’s body, and urged the public to assemble for a dharna in Mansa.
“I am sad that my son has been killed. He had saved thousands of lives,” the father said.
The incident took place on Tuesday morning, when Jhota and some others arrived at Ashwani Kumar’s medical store in Mansa town and questioned him for selling addictive drugs to an elderly man.
The activist was also recording the arguments on his mobile phone.
In a 5-minute-49-second video that surfaced online, he could be heard saying that the medical store owner had taken out a pistol.
“Maar, maar, tun saade fire maar (Open fire at us),” he tells the store owner.
As heard in the video, Jhota tells Ashwani Kumar that the elderly man had bought certain drugs from his shop. When the shopkeeper asks the elderly man about the claim, the activist says he has a video recording of it.
As the argument goes on, Jhota asks the store owner, “What is the need to take out a pistol? Did we say anything to you? This elderly man has bought it (drugs) from you.”
He says further, “We will call the drug inspector, Ashwani (store owner). Are we saying anything to you? You keep the pistol down. Are we beating you up?”
“He is holding a pistol and selling drugs!” Jhota remarks.
The medical shop owner then opens fire, which was recorded in the video. On this, Jhota and his companions run out of the shop.
In another video made by a passerby, Ashwani Kumar is seen coming out of his shop with a weapon and going after Jhota, who runs for cover. The video shows many people scrambling to save their lives upon spotting the shopkeeper with the pistol. The man opens fire again.
As people in the market watch in horror, a man throws a box at Ashwani Kumar, which hits his head. Unfazed, the shopkeeper returns to his store. Later, the video shows Jhota lying in a nearby shop soaked in blood.
He was rushed to the Civil Hospital in Mansa, where he was declared brought dead.
The activist had sustained three bullet injuries, two in his abdomen and one in his thigh, while four of his companions were also injured after being shot at.
Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Choudhary said efforts to nab the accused were underway.
Deputy Inspector General Harjit Singh said police received information about the incident at around 10.30 am. The chemist shop owner used his licensed weapon for the crime, he said, adding that a case has been registered and police teams have been formed to nab him. In the meantime, an associate who helped the store owner escape, has been arrested.
The DIG said that during preliminary investigation, it came to light that the murder took place due to a “personal enmity” that developed between the victim and the accused during the 2023 incident.
Political leaders across Punjab have decried the anti-drug activist’s murder, especially as the drug issue is a key poll pitch in the election-bound state.
AAP leader Baltej Pannu condemned the murder and promised to take strict action against the accused.
“The murder that took place in Mansa is highly condemnable. Information is coming in that it was committed by a person running a chemist shop. No one is permitted to take the law into their own hands. Strict action will be taken against the guilty,” said Pannu.
Opposition parties cornered the Bhagwant Mann government alleging deterioration in the law-and-order situation.
In a post on X, BJP national president Nitin Nabin said the incident exposed “the alarming state of law and order” in Punjab.
He said the killing was shocking and alleged that while AAP came to power promising a drug-free Punjab, those fighting against drugs were now themselves at risk.
“The Aam Aadmi Party came to power promising a drug-free Punjab. Today, those who stand up against drugs are themselves at risk. This is a serious failure of governance,” Nabin said.
“If those fighting the drug mafia are not safe, who is safe in Punjab? The people of Punjab deserve answers and accountability,” he added.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia asked Mann if anyone who dares to speak out will be killed.
“People of Punjab, unite and demand answers and the resignation of this government!” Majithia said on X.
Congress MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring described Jhota’s murder as a direct result of “failed law and order” and the AAP government’s “failed anti-drug drive Yudh Nashian Virudh.”
“Parvinder stood up against Punjab’s drug menace, but the AAP government never supported his initiatives. His broad daylight murder exposes serious failures of the AAP government,” Warring said.
(PTI News)
