Punjab anti-drug activist murder: Congress MP Warring meets Jhota's family

Congress MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Wednesday met the family of slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota and lashed out at the AAP government for "failing" to curb the drug menace in the state.

Jhota, known for raising his voice against drug abuse and the illegal sale of addictive substances, was allegedly shot dead by a medical store owner in a busy market in Mansa district on Tuesday.

Warring accuses AAP government of failing to curb drugs

Warring conveyed his condolences to Jhota's family and said the Congress party stood with them.

Speaking to reporters in Mansa, Warring said the drug menace was one of the biggest issues in Punjab and that the Bhagwant Mann government had failed to curb it.

He said Jhota lost his life while fighting against the drug menace.

"This incident has shaken Punjabis across the world," he said, adding that people across the world were worried about the state getting trapped in the quagmire of drug abuse, which had claimed the lives of many youths.

He said several governments had come to power promising to wipe out the drug menace, but nothing had changed.

Warring claimed that Mann had promised to eradicate drugs within one-and-a-half months and launched campaigns such as an anti-drug drive, which had "miserably failed".

Warring questions accused's licensed weapon

The former Punjab Congress chief also dismissed claims that Jhota's murder took place due to personal enmity.

He questioned how the accused had obtained a licensed weapon.

"How could a man who was selling drugs procure a license for a weapon? That is a matter of investigation," said Warring, the Ludhiana MP.

"We stand by the family of Jhota," he said.

Congress backs Punjab Bandh call

Warring said his party would support the Punjab Bandh call for October 15 given by a joint action committee formed by various organisations following Jhota's murder.

In another development, Akali Dal Waris Punjab De leader Manpreet Singh Ayali said he was prevented from heading towards Mansa by police at a checkpoint at Halwara Chowk in Jagraon.