Panjab Closed Over Anti-Drug Activist Jhota’s Murder; Shah Meets Family

October

2026

The Mansa pharmacy owner, Ashwani Kumar, who shot dead anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota on 13 Oct, was arrested in Salasar, Churu district, Rajasthan on 14 Oct. Over the past few years, Kumar had multiple run-ins with Jhota, which led the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to claim that the murder was due to personal enmity. However, two videos of the incident—one being filmed by Jhota until he was shot—clearly show Jhota confronting Kumar over synthetic drugs. While at Kumar’s shop, Jhota contacted police multiple times. But they did not respond. Jhota also did not get medical help in time. Since 2021, police and Punjab Food and Drugs Administration have raided Kumar 10 times and canceled his license thrice. Kumar’s wife, Neelam Rani, who held the pharmacy license, has also been arrested. Mansa Station Head Officer Beant Kaur has been suspended. The murder has sparked outrage in Panjab. People set the pharmacy ablaze. The district administration brought in earth movers to tear down the property. Authorities justified the action by citing unauthorized construction on the premises and said the crackdown aligned with the state's broader anti-drug campaign Yudh Nashian Virudh (War Against Drugs). Jhota’s father, Bhim Singh, called for a Panjab Bandh (closure) on 15 Oct and initially demanded the resignations of Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav. All opposition parties, farmer unions, and the apex Sikh management body, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, backed the Bandh. Despite police efforts to stop people, activists, and politicians from gathering at Mansa, they arrived in large numbers. The Bandh was successful—highways, shops, and educational institutions remained closed—reflecting the people’s contempt towards drugs. Jhota’s family has still not cremated his body. On 20 Oct, Panjab government asked for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the murder. Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Jhota’s family and assured them of justice. Shah also met Gulzar Singh’s family in Sangrur. Gulzar had committed suicide after police harassed him for questioning Panjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on drugs. Meanwhile, drug sellers attacked another anti-drug activist, 40-year-old Bikramjit Singh, and two others with sharp weapons at Pannawan village, Gurdaspur district, for opposing the sale of drugs on 16 Oct. Bikramjit died from the injuries (earlier coverage).