By Bobby Chacko-
MANSA, PUNJAB — October 13, 2026: In a shocking incident that has once again brought Punjab’s drug crisis and the dangers confronting anti-drug campaigners into sharp focus, Parwinder Singh Jhota, a prominent activist, known for exposing the alleged illegal sale of addictive substances, was shot dead during a confrontation with a medical store owner in Mansa on Tuesday morning.
Four of his companions also sustained bullet injuries in the incident, which was reportedly captured in a Facebook livestream. The killing has raised disturbing questions about the safety of individuals challenging suspected drug suppliers and the effectiveness of efforts to curb the illegal sale of intoxicating substances in the state.
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Jhota and his companions had confronted the owner of a chemist shop over allegations that drugs were being sold illegally from the premises. The confrontation reportedly escalated into a heated argument, during which the shop owner allegedly opened fire. Jhota sustained three bullet wounds, including two in the abdomen and one in the thigh.
Doctors at the Civil Hospital in Mansa confirmed that he was brought dead, with one of the bullets having pierced his liver. His injured companions were also taken to the hospital for treatment. The shop owner reportedly fled after the shooting, while police launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing. The allegations concerning illegal drug sales remain subject to investigation.
The fact that the confrontation and shooting were reportedly captured during a live broadcast on Jhota’s Facebook page ,has added to the shock surrounding the incident. Footage of the horror can be seen in The Times Of India , described in media reports shows the confrontation unfolding outside the medical store before gunfire brings the broadcast to an abrupt end.
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The recording is expected to provide investigators with important evidence about the sequence of events, although the full circumstances, including the events leading up to the confrontation, must be established through an impartial investigation. The incident has also drawn renewed attention to the risks associated with activists conducting direct confrontations with people they suspect of involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Jhota had become a recognisable figure in Mansa and surrounding areas through his sustained campaign against drug abuse and the alleged sale of habit-forming pharmaceutical substances through certain medical stores.
His interventions, many of which were shared on social media, brought him public attention and made him a controversial figure in local disputes connected to the drug menace. His activism had previously placed him at the centre of a confrontation with the authorities. In 2023, police arrested him following a complaint alleging an attempted killing.
However, the police subsequently dropped the attempt-to-murder charges after an initial investigation found insufficient grounds to sustain them, and he was released from custody. The episode highlighted the tensions surrounding his campaign and the disputes that had emerged over his methods and allegations.
Jhota’s killing also recalls other violent incidents in Punjab in which people opposing drug trafficking have reportedly been targeted. In August 2023, Harbhagwan Singh, a member of an anti-drug action committee in Dhilwan village in Faridkot district, was allegedly shot dead by individuals linked to the local drug trade.
A report published by The Indian Express in June 2024 described how his death devastated his family and weakened the community’s campaign against drug dealers. His widow, Veerpal Kaur, faced severe economic hardship and moved away with her children amid concerns for their safety.
The case illustrated how violence against an individual campaigner can have consequences extending well beyond the immediate victim, leaving families vulnerable and discouraging other residents from challenging suspected traffickers.
Another disturbing case occurred in January 2023, when anti-drug campaigner Vansh was murdered in Lakhanpal village in Jalandhar district. Residents had alleged that he had repeatedly spoken out against local drug peddlers and received threats before his death. Six people were named in the police case, according to subsequent reporting by The Times of India. In December 2024, Sukhjit Singh, a 26-year-old Aam Aadmi Party-backed sarpanch in Chhana Gulab Singh village in Barnala district, was killed in an attack involving sharp weapons.
His family said he had been vocal against drug abuse and had refused to support drug peddlers. Although the circumstances and alleged perpetrators differ across these cases, the incidents collectively demonstrate the serious challenges that community members can face when confronting suspected networks involved in the drug trade.
The latest killing therefore raises questions that extend beyond one fatal confrontation. Punjab has faced persistent concerns about drug dependence, illegal pharmaceutical sales and the social damage caused by substance abuse.
Community activists have sometimes attempted to expose suspected offenders through public confrontations and social media broadcasts, seeking to draw attention to alleged wrongdoing. Yet such interventions can also create volatile situations, particularly when accusations are made face-to-face and the authorities are not present to manage an escalating dispute.
The killing of Jhota underscores the need for effective law enforcement, credible investigations into allegations of illegal drug sales and appropriate protection for people who face demonstrable threats because of their public-interest work.
The immediate priority is to establish accountability for the shooting, identify and apprehend those responsible, and determine whether the alleged illegal sale of drugs played a role in the confrontation. Investigators will need to examine the available video footage, obtain witness statements, establish the precise sequence of events and pursue any relevant evidence concerning the medical store.
At the same time, authorities must ensure that the case is handled on the basis of evidence rather than public speculation. The allegations against the shop owner and any other individuals must be tested through due process.
For Punjab, Jhota’s death is more than another episode of gun violence. It is a stark reminder that the fight against drugs cannot depend solely on the courage of individual citizens willing to confront suspected offenders.
It requires sustained police action, transparent regulation of pharmaceutical sales, accessible treatment for people struggling with addiction, and a justice system capable of investigating both drug-related offences and violence against those who report them.
The earlier deaths of anti-drug campaigners show that the human cost can extend to entire families and communities. Whether Jhota’s killing becomes another unresolved symbol of fear or a turning point in the fight against the drug menace will depend on the thoroughness of the investigation and the effectiveness of the response that follows.
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