Punjabi anti-drug activist Jhota cremated Mansa at his native place
A large number of people turned up at his house to pay their last respects before the cremation took place. File. | Photo credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
The mortal remains of slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, whose killing sparked protests and a political row 26 days ago, were cremated at his native home on Sunday (November 8, 2026).
A large number of people turned up when the last rites were performed after his body was brought here from Chandigarh, following the post-mortem at PGIMER on Saturday (November 7, 2026).
Cremation took place at Jhota Fields on Chakerian Road.
Jhota was shot dead in broad daylight on October 13 at a pharmacy in a busy market in Mansa town while he was hosting a Facebook Live session. The shop owner who shot Jhota after the activist confronted him about selling drugs to an elderly man was subsequently arrested.
A number of people also turned up at his home to pay their last respects before the cremation took place.
Jhota’s father Bhim Singh appealed to the youth of Punjab to take a stand against drug abuse and said that his son had given his life to fight this scourge.
“Thank you to the Joint Action Committee for standing by all of us,” he told reporters on Sunday (November 8, 2026).
The Joint Action Committee (JAC), also known as the Parminder Singh Jhota Insaaf Action Committee, is a coalition of various social organizations and activists formed in Punjab after Jhota’s murder.
Jhota’s body was brought to PGIMER Chandigarh from the Mansa Civil Hospital mortuary on Friday (November 6, 2026) after his family ended their 22-day agitation and agreed to the post-mortem following a meeting with Punjab government officials on Wednesday (November 4).
The family of the anti-drug activist along with the JAC sat in a protest at the Manse seeking justice for the slain activist.
On 28 October, two JAC members, Lakhvir Singh and Mohanjit Singh Sheron, were arrested during the protest.
On the evening of 5 November, JAC members were released from the Nabha District Jail following a meeting between the protesters and government officials, including Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on 4 November.
The murderous incident has set off a political wave in Punjab that is set to take place early next year.
The opposition criticized the AAP government over the alleged drug menace in the state and several leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress pilot Sachin, Punjab Congress chief Pargat Singh, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon visited Jhota’s family.
The JAC demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav.
The Punjab government had earlier handed over the investigation into Jhota’s death to the CBI on the request of his family. The state government has suspended a station house officer, a deputy superintendent of police and a drug inspector in connection with the case.
The family is demanding a trauma center in Jhota’s name and compensation for each of the four injured in the incident, which the government has agreed to.
Other requirements the government agreed to include the installation of Jhota’s statue in either a park or a stadium.
Published – 8 Nov 2026 13:12 IST