Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh alias Jhota, known for raising his voice against drug abuse and the illegal sale of addictive substances at chemist shops, was shot dead in broad daylight in a busy market in Mansa district on Tuesday.
Police have launched a manhunt for Ashwani Kumar, the medical store owner who opened fire on the activist and his companions, allegedly enraged after they questioned him for selling addictive drugs to an elderly man. Following the incident, tensions simmered in Mansa town as the activist’s supporters vandalised the medical shop, even as Jhota’s family refused to cremate his body in protest. A heavy police force has been deployed outside the Civil Hospital, where his body is kept. Speaking to reporters, the activist’s aggrieved father slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, alleging that drugs are sold openly in the state and his son was killed while fighting the menace. The activist was also recording the arguments on his mobile phone. As the argument ensues, Kumar opens fire, which was recorded in the video. On this, Jhota and his companions run out of the shop. In another video made by a passerby, Kumar is seen coming out of his shop with a weapon and going after Jhota, who runs for cover. The video shows many people scrambling to save their lives upon spotting the shopkeeper with the pistol. The man opens fire again. In the meantime, an associate who helped the store owner escape, has been arrested.
In a 5-minute-49-second video that surfaced online, he could be heard saying that the medical store owner had taken out a pistol. Deputy inspector general Harjit Singh said police received information about the incident at around 10.30 am.
“My son was killed by drug traffickers,” said the father, adding that the family will not cremate the body, and urged the public to assemble for a dharna in Mansa. Mansa SSSP Vaibhav Choudhary said efforts to nab the accused were underway. The chemist shop owner used his licensed weapon for the crime, he said, adding that a case has been registered and police teams have been formed to nab him. The DIG said that during preliminary investigation, it came to light that the murder took place due to a “personal enmity” that developed between the victim and the accused during the 2023 incident.
The incident took place on Tuesday morning, when Jhota and some others arrived at Ashwani Kumar’s medical store in Mansa town and questioned him for selling addictive drugs to an elderly man.
