Mansa: Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhotta was cremated on Diwali on Sunday amid emotional scenes, with mourners bidding him a tearful farewell.
The last rites were performed at a field on Chakherian Road in the presence of a large gathering of family members, relatives, people and representatives of various organisations. Jhotta’s elder son and father lit the funeral pyre.
Before the cremation, speakers addressing the gathering raised concerns over the growing drug trade in Punjab and alleged political patronage extended to drug traffickers. They accused successive governments of protecting drug traffickers instead of taking strict action against them.
The speakers said Jhotta had launched a campaign against drugs and raised his voice to protect young people from substance abuse. They demanded an impartial and thorough investigation into his death and action against those responsible.
They also called for the struggle against drugs to continue.
