Chandigarh: Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota came into the spotlight in 2023 for his campaign against the alleged illegal sale of intoxicating medicines in Mansa and nearby areas. He was shot dead on Tuesday morning by a chemist after heated arguments.
Videos of his confrontations with medical store operators circulated widely on social media, drawing attention to the drug problem and sparking debate over whether activists should take enforcement into their own hands.
On July 12, 2023, Jhota and his supporters were reportedly involved in a dispute with medical store owner Ashwani Kumar. Reports at the time said Kumar was made to wear a garland of shoes and paraded through a market, an incident that attracted widespread attention online.
Police registered a case against Jhota and some of his associates following the dispute. The allegations reportedly included assault, trespass and rioting, while reports also referred to separate allegations of extortion and intimidation. Jhota was released from jail in September 2023 after legal proceedings in one of the cases.
