Ashwani Kumar, the medical store owner who went on the run following accusations that he killed anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh alias Jhota in Punjab’s Mansa district, has been picked up from Rajasthan’s Salasar town 300km away, a Punjab Police officer said.
His arrest was broadcast live on social media. Kumar’s associate, who allegedly helped Ashwani flee Mansa after the murder, has already been arrested by the police. In a widely circulated video clip, Ashwani was allegedly seen opening fire at Jhota after he made the accusation. HT cannot verify the authenticity of the video. Tensions escalated in Mansa after the murder, with Jhota’s supporters vandalising the medical shop and his family refusing to cremate his body. A heavy police force was deployed outside the Civil Hospital, where the body was kept.
Kumar was caught late last night and is being brought to Mansa, police said. Our team is in the process of lodging an FIR,” the officer said.
“The deceased’s father has agreed to give his statement before the police. A senior police officer said a first information report (FIR) into the murder is also being filed on Wednesday morning. Jhota’s family told police on Tuesday they were reluctant to file a formal case against Kumar unless he was caught. Jhota was shot dead on Tuesday morning when he went to a retail pharmacy outlet in Mansa town and accused the owner of peddling drugs.
