Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa on Tuesday after confronting a medical store owner over the alleged sale of intoxicating drugs. The confrontation was being broadcast live on Jhota's Facebook account, capturing the heated exchange moments before the shooting.
Jhota was known for publicly challenging chemists suspected of selling addictive substances. In a video lasting around five minutes, he was seen outside the shop alongside an elderly man who allegedly claimed to have purchased drugs from the store.
Facebook Live captures heated argument
The video showed Jhota questioning the shop owner about the alleged sale and asking him to produce CCTV footage. The shopkeeper, meanwhile, was seen holding a pistol as the exchange grew increasingly tense.
"Maar mujhe, maar mujhe (kill me, kill me)," Jhota repeatedly told the shop owner.
He also questioned him, "Why have you kept a pistol," while asking his associates to call the police and gather more people.
The shopkeeper then asked the elderly man whether he had taken 'drugs' from him. Jhota responded, "Yes, we have the recording".
The argument continued for around four minutes before the shop owner allegedly opened fire. Jhota was killed, and his mobile phone fell to the ground, bringing the Facebook Live broadcast to an abrupt end.
The shop owner is on the run.
Who was Parvinder Singh Jhota?
Jhota had spent several years campaigning against drug abuse and alleged illegal sales of intoxicating substances through medical stores in Mansa and nearby areas. He had more than 24,000 followers on Facebook, where his videos confronting shopkeepers attracted attention.
He first came into the spotlight in 2023 following a dispute involving a medical store owner. On July 12 that year, a confrontation reportedly took place between Jhota, his supporters and a shopkeeper.
Police subsequently registered cases against Jhota and some of his associates. He was arrested in July 2023 on allegations including assault, trespass and rioting, and was released two months later.
Punjab's anti-drug campaign in focus
The killing has brought renewed attention to the problem of drug abuse and allegations of illegal sales of intoxicating substances in poll-bound Punjab.
The Bhagwant Mann-led state government has launched an anti-drug campaign, 'Yudh Nashian Virudh', to tackle the drug menace.