Mansa Anti-Drug Campaigner Killed in Shooting; Punjab Police Hunt for Medicine Shop Owner

MANSA, Punjab: A campaign against the alleged sale of synthetic drugs has ended in a fatal shooting in Punjab’s Mansa district, where anti-drug activist Parwinder Singh Jhota was killed on Tuesday morning during a confrontation with a medicine shop owner.

The incident, recorded during a Facebook livestream, has prompted a police manhunt and renewed political attacks over the state’s response to drug abuse.

The footage reportedly shows Jhota questioning shop owner Ashwani Kumar about the alleged sale of synthetic narcotics.

The exchange turns violent when Kumar, seen holding a pistol, allegedly fires at the activist.

Police said the suspect escaped after the shooting, and efforts were underway to trace him.

Another person accompanying Jhota was wounded in the incident and taken to hospital in serious condition.

Social Media Videos Were Central to Jhota’s Campaign

Jhota had made confronting suspected drug sellers a prominent feature of his activism.

He regularly broadcast such encounters on social media, drawing attention to what he described as the availability of narcotics in the area.

These confrontations sometimes developed into heated arguments, with the latest livestream ending in deadly violence.

In the recording made shortly before the shooting, Jhota appears to warn that Kumar has a weapon concealed behind his back.

He also mentions an elderly customer who, he alleges, had just purchased drugs from the shop. The recording then captures the sound of gunfire.

His concerns had also been directed towards the authorities.

In a video posted on social media a few days earlier, Jhota had appealed to the Central Bureau of Investigation to visit Mansa and examine allegations that medical stores were being used to sell synthetic drugs.

The latest incident has therefore brought renewed attention to the allegations he had been raising.

Police are investigating the killing, while reports that the accused has previously faced multiple criminal cases remain subject to verification.

Manhunt Under Way as Police Set Arrest Target

Mansa police said the investigation is underway and that they intend to apprehend the suspect within 24 hours.

In a statement posted on X, the police emphasised their commitment to taking stringent action and ensuring that law and order is maintained across the district.

The immediate priority for investigators is to locate Kumar and establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The allegations made during the livestream will also need to be examined as part of the investigation.

Opposition Questions Effectiveness of Anti-Drug Drive

The killing has quickly developed into a political controversy, with opposition leaders arguing that the incident raises serious questions about the Punjab government’s campaign against narcotics, known as Yudh Nasheyan Virudh.

Punjab Congress chief Pargat Singh condemned the killing and accused the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government of failing to adequately address the drug problem.

In his reaction on X, he argued that people challenging the alleged drug trade were being exposed to danger while those suspected of involvement in it appeared increasingly emboldened.

Singh expressed condolences to Jhota’s family and said his party would continue to demand accountability over the alleged networks involved in the drug trade.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal also seized on the incident to criticise the state government.

He said Jhota had repeatedly spoken out against drugs but, in his view, had not received the support needed to pursue his campaign.

Badal described the killing as evidence of a worsening law-and-order situation and dismissed the government’s anti-drug initiative as ineffective.

He further accused the AAP administration of neglecting pressing problems affecting the state.

The allegations made by opposition leaders represent their political assessment of the incident; the investigation into the killing remains a separate process.

Killing Puts Spotlight on Risks Faced by Anti-Drug Activists

Beyond the political exchanges, Jhota’s death has raised troubling questions about the safety of people who publicly challenge suspected narcotics networks.

His use of livestreams to document confrontations had made his campaign visible, but the latest episode has ended in a fatal outcome.

The case now presents the Punjab Police with two immediate tasks: arresting the alleged shooter and establishing the facts behind the confrontation.

The outcome of the investigation will be important in determining criminal responsibility and clarifying the allegations surrounding the shop.

For Punjab, the incident has also renewed scrutiny of the gap between official efforts to combat drugs and the concerns raised by campaigners and political opponents.