Anger mounts in Punjab after drug crusader killed in broad daylight
An anti-drug crusader was shot dead at a local health shop in Punjab’s Mansa district on Tuesday, sparking widespread outrage and putting the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on the back foot over the “deteriorating” law and order situation in the state.
Parvinder Singh Jhota was allegedly shot dead by the owner of a health shop when he confronted him for selling illegal drugs to a man, police said.
Although he was taken to the hospital, the doctors declared that Jhota was brought dead. The accused fled the spot soon after the incident and police teams were formed to nab him.
Police said Jhota was recording the arguments on his mobile phone. In an alleged video that surfaced online, Jhota was heard saying that Ashwani, the owner of the medical shop, pulled out his gun.
Bathinda Range DIG Harjeet Singh said, “Police received information about the incident around 10.30 am. The accused appears to have used a licensed weapon to commit the crime. His accomplice has been arrested. Efforts are on to nab Ashwani.”
Personal enmity
The DIG said the incident might have stemmed from an old personal enmity between the two. “The case is being thoroughly investigated and the accused will be arrested within 24 hours,” said Senior Superintendent of Police, Mansa, Vaibhav Choudhary.
Former boxer Jhota campaigned against drug abuse in Mansa and neighboring areas through the ‘Nasha Roko, Rozgaar Do’ drive.
After the incident, dozens of people protested outside Mansa Civil Hospital. Shops were also closed in the city. The protesters vandalized the medical warehouse of the accused. Jhot’s family refused to cremate the body and accused the state government of its “failure” to curb substance abuse.
The opposition stormed the AAP government even as supporters of the deceased blocked the Barnala-Sirsa road in Mansa.
BJP national president Nitin Nabin said the brazen daylight killing of Jhota, who had raised his voice against drugs in Mansa, exposed the “extremely poor law and order situation” in AAP-ruled Punjab.
“The Aam Aadmi Party came to power promising a drug-free Punjab. Today, those who raise their voice against drugs are themselves in danger. This is a serious failure of the administration. If those who fight the drug mafia are not safe, who is safe in Punjab? People of Punjab demand answers and accountability,” Mr Nabin said in a post on ‘X’.
“CM must resign”
Demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwanta Manna, senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, “The drug mafia has become so strong under his (Bhagawanta Manna) regime that it is now resorting to killing anti-drug activists in broad daylight.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said Jhota’s murder “revealed the grim reality” behind the AAP government’s much-hyped “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh” campaign. “When those fighting the drug menace are themselves being killed, what does it say about the government’s commitment to eradicate drugs from Punjab?” he joked.
AAP Punjab media in-charge and state general secretary (organization) Baltej Pannu said, “The preliminary police point to personal enmity behind Jhota’s murder. It must be thoroughly investigated. Whatever was the personal dispute, no one has the right to take the law into their own hands.”
Published – 14 Oct 2026 0:22 IST