Slain Punjab anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota cremated in Mansa after 22-day protest ends

UPDATE - follow-up to Body of Punjab anti-drug activist Jhota brought to Mansa for last rites: Slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was cremated in his native Mansa on Sunday, November 8, 2026, twenty-six days after his murder sparked statewide protests and a major political row. A large crowd gathered at his home and at his fields on Chakerian Road for the last rites, which followed a post-mortem examination performed at PGIMER in Chandigarh on Saturday.

The Funeral And Protests

Jhota was shot dead on October 13 while hosting a Facebook Live session at a medical store in Mansa after confronting the owner over selling addictive drugs to an elderly man. His family and the Joint Action Committee, also known as the Parminder Singh Jhota Insaaf Action Committee, ended a 22-day agitation following a November 4 meeting with government representatives, including Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian. Two jailed JAC members, Lakhvir Singh and Mohanjit Singh Sheron, were subsequently released from Nabha district jail on November 5.

Family And Political Reactions

During the final rites, Jhota's father, Bhim Singh, urged the youth of Punjab to swear off drug abuse and thanked the joint action committee for their constant support. The murder prompted numerous prominent political figures to visit the grieving family, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress leader Sachin Pilot, Punjab Congress chief Pargat Singh, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, and Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon. The action committee had earlier demanded the resignations of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and State Police Chief Gaurav Yadav.

Government Actions

Responding to the family's demands, the Punjab government transferred the investigation to the CBI and suspended a station house officer, a deputy superintendent of police, and a drug inspector. Authorities also agreed to set up a trauma centre named after Jhota, pay compensation to the four injured persons from the incident, and install a statue of the activist in a park or stadium.

Context

High-profile crimes involving local activists often spark prolonged public demonstrations and political confrontations between state governments and opposition parties in India. Such movements frequently lead to administrative inquiries, suspensions of local officials, and policy concessions to defuse public anger.