From The Hindu · Divya P _12570 · · 2m
Punjab anti-drug activist shot dead in broad daylight
Parvinder Singh Jhota, known for exposing illegal drug sales at chemist shops, was killed by a medical store owner in Mansa district on October 13, 2026.
In brief
Parvinder Singh Jhota, known for exposing illegal drug sales at chemist shops, was killed by a medical store owner in Mansa district on October 13, 2026. Parvinder Singh Jhota, a prominent anti-drug activist in Punjab, was shot dead by a medical store owner in Mansa on October 13, 2026, after questioning him over…
Anti-drug activist shot in Mansa
Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, inside a medical store at a busy marketplace in Mansa district, Punjab, in broad daylight.
Who was Parvinder Singh Jhota
A former State-level boxer nicknamed Jhota, meaning bull, he quit using chitta, a heroin-based opioid, in twenty fifteen after a friend died from an overdose in front of him.
Nasha Roko campaign launched
Jhota started the Nasha Roko, Rozgaar Do campaign with Punjab Kisan Union leader Sukhdarshan Singh, raiding chemist shops and homes suspected of selling illicit drugs.
Movement spreads across villages
His popularity grew and civilian Nasha Roko Committees sprang up in villages across Mansa and Bathinda, carrying out similar searches and raids on suspected drug outlets.
Why Jhota was killed
Jhota was questioning medical store owner Ashwani Kumar over the sale of certain drugs to a man and recording the argument on his mobile phone when he was shot.
Personal enmity cited as motive
Police said preliminary investigation points to personal enmity as the motive. A previous dispute between Jhota and Kumar occurred in July twenty twenty-three, when Jhota allegedly garlanded the chemist with shoes.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that the murder stemmed from personal enmity.”
CBI takes over investigation
The CBI registered a case and took over the investigation on October twenty, twenty twenty-six. The Aam Aadmi Party government announced the CBI probe hours before Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Punjab.
Family refuses last rites
Jhota's family members and supporters are protesting in Mansa and have refused to allow last rites until justice is delivered. Post-mortem and cremation are yet to take place.
In short
Parvinder Singh Jhota, a prominent anti-drug activist in Punjab, was shot dead by a medical store owner in Mansa on October 13, 2026, after questioning him over illicit drug sales.
