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Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead by a medical shop owner in Punjab’s Mansa.
New Delhi: The main accused in the murder of Punjab anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota has been arrested in Rajasthan, marking a major development in the investigation into the shocking daylight killing in Mansa.
Ashwani Kumar, a medical store owner accused of shooting Jhota, was taken into custody in Salasar on Wednesday, October 14, according to police sources cited in media reports. Kumar had allegedly fled after the shooting on Tuesday, prompting police to launch a search operation.
Jhota, who had campaigned against drug abuse and the alleged illegal sale of intoxicating substances, was shot during a confrontation with the medical store owner. The incident was captured during a Facebook Live session conducted by the activist.
According to reports, Jhota and his supporters confronted Kumar at his medical store in a busy market in Mansa over allegations that the shop had supplied addictive substances to an elderly man.
The exchange reportedly escalated into a heated argument. Footage of the confrontation showed the shop owner allegedly pulling out a firearm and opening fire. Jhota and his companions attempted to move away from the shop after the shooting.
Jhota was later found seriously injured and rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Police had registered a murder case and launched a search for the accused.
An associate suspected of helping Kumar escape was arrested earlier, according to reports. <Cite refs=
The confrontation reportedly had a history. In July 2023, Jhota and his supporters had allegedly confronted Kumar over suspected illegal drug sales. The incident led to a public dispute and criminal cases against Jhota and some of his associates.
The earlier confrontation had reportedly included allegations of assault and the public humiliation of the medical store owner. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the latest shooting.
A preliminary police investigation had pointed towards personal enmity as a possible motive, according to an earlier report. The final motive will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation. <Cite refs={["turn114628search1","turn114628news11"]}/>
Jhota's killing triggered widespread reactions, with opposition leaders questioning the law-and-order situation in Punjab and criticising the state government's anti-drug campaign.
Leaders from the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal condemned the killing and alleged that the state had failed to protect people raising their voices against drug abuse. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party's leaders also condemned the murder and said strict action would be taken against those responsible.
The case has renewed attention on Punjab's drug problem and the risks surrounding confrontational efforts to expose alleged illegal drug sales.
With the main accused now arrested, investigators are expected to focus on establishing the sequence of events, the motive behind the shooting and the role of others, if any. The accused remains subject to the ongoing criminal investigation and judicial process.
