Punjab drug crisis and Jhota murder: A rallying cry ahead of 2027 elections

Residents stage a protest in Mansa following the death of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, who was shot dead on October 13. With his last rites yet to be performed, protesters are demanding the resignation of the chief minister and the state director general of police, saying the government has failed to address Punjab’s drug problem. | Photo credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

On October 13, anti-drug crusader Parvinder Singh Jhota (40) was shot dead in broad daylight in Mansa, Punjab. A fortnight later, his last rites had still not been performed. A stretch of road in the town’s Tikoni area has become a protest site, from where huge crowds are declaring the slain activist a martyr and urging people not to mourn his death but to protect his ideals and continue the fight against drugs. Punjab has been battling drug addiction for over two decades.

A steady crowd, including the elderly and the young, women and men, continues to arrive at the site of the pucca morcha (sustained protest protest) and pass the barricades and signboards. Traffic police have set up diversions, but people’s determination to stay for the long haul is clear.

Published – 01 Nov 2026 04:50 IST