Chandigarh:- Parvinder Singh Jhota, who headed the Anti-Drug Task Force in Mansa, Punjab, has been shot dead. According to information, the shocking incident was allegedly carried out by the owner of a medical store. On Tuesday morning, the medical store owner allegedly fired multiple shots at close range. The bullets reportedly passed through Jhota’s body. According to information, a Facebook Live video lasting 5 minutes and 48 seconds was recorded on Parvinder Singh Jhota’s Facebook page during the incident, in which the sound of gunshots can be heard. It is reported that the video shows Jhota and his associates arguing with the medical shop owner over issues related to drugs. The shooting took place during the confrontation.
Parvinder Singh Jhota had been opposing drug abuse in Mansa for a long time. He not only tried to stop the sale of drugs but also apprehended people allegedly involved in selling them. He had been involved in several disputes over this issue, and several village panchayats had passed resolutions against drugs at his urging.
Parvinder Singh Jhota was known as “Jhota” on social media. He had launched a campaign alleging that some medical stores in Mansa and surrounding areas were selling banned capsules. He maintained that the sale of these medicines was harming young people. A shopkeeper selling medicines in Mansa had reportedly been paraded through the city wearing a garland of shoes, and the shop had been shut down. It is being reported that the shots were fired by the same shopkeeper.
Following Parvinder Singh Jhota’s murder, his supporters began a sit-in protest at 12 Hattan Chowk in Mansa, demanding the arrest of the accused. Markets across Mansa city were completely shut down.
According to the information received, four other people were injured along with Parvinder Singh Jhota. They were identified as Baljit Singh (65), Kulwinder Singh (42), Happy Singh (24) and Gobind Singh (30). Two of the injured were referred to Bathinda because of the seriousness of their injuries.
First Arrest in Parvinder Murder Case; Protesters Vandalise Medical Shop
Police have made the first arrest in the murder case of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota. IG Bathinda Range Harjit Singh said the murder was the result of an old personal enmity.
The DIG said, “Police have arrested a person who helped the main accused, Ashwani, escape after the murder.” The DIG said police received information about the incident at around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. He added that, at the preliminary stage, it appeared that a licensed firearm had been used in the murder.
According to the DIG, the accused fled the scene after the shooting, following which the police formed several teams to search for them. As part of the investigation, family members of the accused were also taken into custody. He further said that there was an old rivalry between the deceased and the accused and that their personal enmity had also come to light in an incident in 2023. However, the police have not disclosed the name of the arrested person.
At around 3:30 p.m., amid the commotion in Mansa, some protesters, including Nihang Singhs, vandalised a medical shop allegedly linked to the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota. The incident took place in the presence of a large number of police personnel. The protesters also damaged a fire tender deployed at the spot. The police later brought the situation under control.
