Three days after anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead in a busy market in Punjab's Mansa, his body remained in the mortuary of the Civil Hospital on Friday as his family refused to perform the last rites until justice was delivered.
The killing has triggered widespread outrage and intensified the political confrontation over the drug menace in Punjab, where Assembly elections are scheduled for early next year. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal separately visited Jhota's family on Friday and criticised the Bhagwant Mann-led government over the incident.
A joint action committee comprising various organisations and social activists, formed following Jhota's murder, has demanded the resignations of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav. It has also sought the dismissal of the Mansa senior superintendent of police, deputy superintendent of police, station house officer and drug inspector, besides demanding a CBI investigation into the killing.
๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ
Jhota was shot dead on Tuesday while questioning a medical store owner over allegations that he had sold addictive drugs to an elderly man. The incident occurred in a crowded market while the activist was conducting a Facebook Live broadcast.
The accused, identified as medical store owner Ashwani Kumar, allegedly opened fire during the confrontation. He was subsequently arrested from Salasar in Rajasthan.
The murder has sparked anger among anti-drug campaigners and residents, with Jhota's family refusing to accept his body for cremation until their demands for justice are addressed.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has promised the strictest punishment for those responsible for the killing. However, Opposition parties have accused his government of failing to protect individuals campaigning against drug trafficking.
๐๐ธ๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ต๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐บ๐ ๐ด๐ผ๐๐
After meeting the bereaved family, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj accused the Punjab government of failing to control the drug menace.
"It is their responsibility to curb the drug menace, but this government has completely failed in doing so," he told reporters.
Gargajj said he had witnessed the devastating impact of narcotics on families across Punjab during the Akal Takht's Miri-Piri Khalsa march, which began in July.
He recalled meeting numerous families in villages across the state and hearing accounts of the damage caused by drug addiction and trafficking.
The Jathedar had earlier condemned Jhota's murder, describing it as a major loss for the Panth and Punjab.
He alleged that drug peddlers had become increasingly emboldened because of the government's failure to curb trafficking, allowing them to openly sell narcotics and even resort to murder.
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ด๐ผ๐๐'๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐น
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal also met Jhota's family and expressed solidarity with them.
Speaking to reporters, she said the entire state stood with the activist's family in its hour of grief and accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of allowing the drug menace to worsen.
"Those selling drugs are enjoying the patronage of this government. They are so emboldened that if anyone raises their voice against drugs, they face bullets," she alleged.
Badal demanded the immediate dismissal of the Mann government, accusing it of failing to maintain law and order and protect those working against narcotics trafficking.
Opposition leaders have described the prevailing situation as "jungle raj", alleging that criminals and drug traffickers are operating without fear of consequences.
๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ต ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฃ๐๐ป๐ท๐ฎ๐ฏ
The killing has also drawn the attention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who said on Friday that the Centre would seek a response from the Punjab government over Jhota's murder and the death by suicide of Gulzar Singh last month.
Gulzar Singh had reportedly questioned a minister about the supply of drugs in his locality before his death.
In a post on X, Shah raised concerns over the safety of Punjab's residents amid allegations of increasing drug trafficking, gangsterism and organised crime.
The developments have sharpened the political battle between the BJP and the ruling AAP over responsibility for tackling the drug problem.
While the Mann government maintains that it is pursuing an aggressive anti-drug campaign, Opposition leaders have questioned its effectiveness in preventing trafficking and protecting activists.
Meanwhile, Jhota's family continued to await action on its demands, leaving the activist's last rites on hold as pressure mounted for an independent investigation into his killing.