Anti-Drug Activist Shot Dead in Punjab's Mansa District

Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at a medical store in Mansa district, triggering widespread protests across the region. The police received information about the shooting at around 10:30 a.m. Jhota was rushed to the local civil hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead while the assailants fled the scene.

Investigation and Arrests

Preliminary police investigations revealed that a chemist shop owner named Ashwani allegedly fired at Jhota using a licensed pistol. A purported video showed the two men in a confrontation over the alleged sale of illicit drugs before the shooting occurred. On Wednesday, October 14, Punjab AAP media in-charge Baltej Pannu stated that the main accused had been arrested by the police. Deputy Inspector General Harjeet Singh noted that investigators are examining a previous dispute from July 2023, when Jhota had allegedly garlanded the chemist with shoes over accusations of selling illegal drugs.

Protests and Political Fallout

The killing has placed the ruling Aam Aadmi Party on the defensive over law and order and its pre-election pledge to eliminate drugs, even as the police anti-drug campaign 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' reached its 591st day. Following the incident, angry crowds staged a protest outside the Mansa Civil Hospital, closed down local shops, and vandalized the accused person's medical store. Congress MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring visited the bereaved family on October 14 to offer condolences.

Context

Parvinder Singh Jhota, a former boxer who launched the "Nasha Roko, Rozgaar Do" campaign in 2023, inspired village-level civilian committees to raid suspected drug outlets. Recent data from the PANJ Foundation highlights that Punjab faces a severe drug and substance abuse challenge, with rates of cannabis, opioid, and cocaine use significantly higher than national averages.