Medical store owner who shot Punjab activist dead arrested in Rajasthan

The medical store owner, Ashwani Kumar, who shot dead anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in broad daylight in Punjab's busy market, was arrested in Rajasthan's Salasar after a police manhunt.

In Short

• Anti-drug activist was shot dead by medical store owner
• Incident caught on video showing confrontation and shooting
• Political leaders criticise AAP govt's failure on law and order

Police on Wednesday arrested the medical store owner, Ashwani Kumar, who shot dead an anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Punjab, from Rajasthan’s Salasar.

The incident happened when Jhota, known for raising his voice against drug abuse and the illegal sale of addictive substances at chemist shops, and his supporters were questioning the owner of the shop located at a busy market in Punjab’s Mansa for selling certain addictive drugs to a man.

Jhota was also filming the confrontation on his mobile phone. In a 5-minute-49-second video that later surfaced online, he could be heard saying that the medical store owner had pulled out his pistol.

"Maar, maar, tun saade fire maar (Open fire at us)," Jhota could be heard telling the store owner, who then allegedly opened fire.

Following the confrontation, Jhota and his companions ran out of the shop.

In another video, the medical store owner could be seen emerging from the shop with a weapon and chasing Jhota as he ran for cover. Several people were also seen fleeing after spotting the armed man.

Jhota was later found lying in a nearby shop, soaked in blood. He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead, police said.

The killing drew widespread condemnation, coming amid anti-drug campaigns being carried out by the state government and political parties.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Baltej Pannu condemned the murder and assured strict action against the accused.

"The murder that took place in Mansa is highly condemnable. Information is coming in that this murder was committed by a person running a chemist shop. No person in Punjab is permitted to take the law into their own hands; strict action will be taken against the guilty," Pannu said.

Opposition parties hit out at the Bhagwant Mann government, accusing it of failing to maintain law and order.

"Parvinder Jhota, who was fighting against the drug menace in Mansa, was shot at and subsequently died. Bhagwant Mann, will anyone who dares to speak out be killed? People of Punjab, unite and demand answers and the resignation of this government!" Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia said in a post on X.

Congress MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring described Jhota's murder in broad daylight as a direct consequence of the government's "failed law and order" and the AAP government's "failed anti-drug drive Yudh Nashian Virudh."

"Parminder stood up against Punjab's drug menace, but the AAP government never supported his initiatives. His broad daylight murder exposes serious failures of the AAP government," Warring said.

State BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon also criticised the AAP government over the law-and-order situation.

In a post on X, Dhillon said, "Jungle Raj in Punjab. The brazen murder of Parvinder Jhota, who raised his voice against drugs in Mansa. The AAP government, which claims to bring 'badlav', should tell us, is this your change? Bhagwant Mann ji, have mercy on Punjabis, resign and spare Punjab."

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal expressed shock over the killing.

"This heinous murder is a stark reminder that law and order has ceased to exist in Punjab. The deceased had been continuously raising his voice against the drug menace, but no one took heed, and no one supported him," Badal said.

"The much-hyped Yudh Nashian Virudh is nothing but a gimmick and has completely failed. Recent events have exposed how the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP dispensation is completely engrossed in looting Punjab and draining the state's resources to enrich itself. They pay zero attention towards the deteriorating situation in the state. It is because of this criminal negligence that Punjabis are suffering every single day. This jungle raj must end," Badal added.

- Ends