Jhota murder case: Who was the Punjabi anti-drug activist, why was he killed

Poster of anti-drugs fighter Parvinder Singh Jhota. File Photo | Photo credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Parvinder Singh Jhota, a prominent anti-drug activist, was shot dead in Punjab’s Mansa district on Tuesday (October 13, 2026), sending shock waves and sparking outrage across the state.

Jhota, known for raising his voice against the illegal sale of narcotics in drugstores, was gunned down last week in broad daylight at a pharmacy in a busy market in Mansa. Here’s a look at who Parvinder Singh Jhota was, why he was killed and the latest update on the Jhota murder case.

Who was Parvinder Singh Jhota?

Parvinder Singh alias Jhota has been campaigning against drug abuse in Mansa and neighboring areas in Punjab for the past few years through the ‘Nasha Roko, Rozgaar Do’ (stop addiction, give employment) campaign.

He was a star athlete during his school and college years and was named ‘Jhota’, meaning bull, as a state-level boxer. According to a report in The Hindu, he once said that he started using chitta, a heroin-based opioid, for the first time when he went to jail for a street brawl. He quit in 2015 after a friend died of an overdose before him.

Jhota launched the “Nasha roko, rozgaar do” campaign with the help of Punjab Kisan Union leader Sukhdarshan Singh. Along with his supporters, he raided pharmacies and homes suspected of selling illegal drugs and advised people not to sell or consume them. His popularity grew and civilian “Nasha Roko Committees” appeared in villages as far away as Mansa and Bathinda to carry out similar searches and raids on suspected drug shops.

Why was Jhota killed

Jhota, who was known for exposing the illegal sale of narcotics in drugstores, died after being shot by the owner of a health shop in Mansa district.

The activist was questioning the pharmacy owner about selling certain drugs to the man and was also recording the argument on his mobile phone when he was shot.

Ashwani Kumar, the shop owner who allegedly opened fire on Jhota, has been taken into custody from Rajasthan’s Salasar.

Police claimed that a preliminary investigation into Jhota’s murder pointed to personal enmity as the motive behind the crime. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harjeet Singh then said, “Preliminary investigations indicate that the murder was due to personal enmity. The incident involving the two persons also took place in 2023 and this previous dispute is being looked into as part of the investigation.”

The dispute between Jhota and the accused dates back to July 2023, when the activist allegedly decorated the chemist with shoes and accused him of selling illegal drugs.

What is the latest update in case of Jhota

The incident, which happened while Jhota was hosting a Facebook Live, has set off a political wave in Punjab, which goes to the polls early next year.

The CBI registered a case of murder of an anti-drug activist and took over the investigation. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab announced the CBI probe on October 20, hours before Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Punjab, where he also met Jhota’s family.

Mr Shah later said he had never felt so deeply saddened in his life as when he met the family members of those who died in incidents linked to the drug menace in Punjab, criticizing the government led by CM Bhagwant Mann, saying it had failed to curb the menace.

The post-mortem and cremation are yet to take place as Jhota’s family members and supporters are protesting at the Manse and have refused to allow the last rites until justice is served.

Published – 21 Oct 2026 13:55 IST