An anti-drug campaigner was shot dead in Punjab’s Mansa district after a confrontation with a medical store owner over allegations of illegal drug sales, according to the account provided. The incident, which was reportedly captured during a live broadcast on Facebook, has raised fresh concerns about the risks faced by people confronting suspected drug-related activity in the state.
The victim, Parvinder Singh Jhota, was known for challenging chemists and medical store operators over the alleged illegal sale of addictive substances. He was reportedly confronting a shopkeeper outside his store when an argument escalated into gunfire.
During the approximately five-minute Facebook live session, Jhota was seen standing beside an elderly man who allegedly claimed to have purchased drugs from the shop. Jhota questioned the shopkeeper about the alleged sale and demanded access to the store’s CCTV footage, saying that they had a recording to support their claim.
The exchange grew increasingly tense. The shopkeeper was seen holding a pistol as the two men argued. Jhota repeatedly challenged him, saying, “Maar mujhe, maar mujhe” — meaning, “Shoot me, shoot me” — and questioned why he was carrying a firearm.
At one point, Jhota was also heard asking his associates to call the police and bring more people to the scene. The shopkeeper, meanwhile, questioned the elderly man about whether he had obtained drugs from the store. Jhota responded that they had a recording of the alleged transaction.
The confrontation continued for several minutes before the shopkeeper allegedly opened fire, killing Jhota.
The shooting also left Jhota’s companions injured. The Tribune reported that four of his associates sustained bullet wounds and that all five men were taken to Mansa Civil Hospital, where Jhota was declared dead on arrival. The hospital’s senior medical officer said the activist had suffered three gunshot injuries, including one that pierced his liver.
The medical store owner reportedly fled after the shooting, and police began investigating the incident. The circumstances surrounding the alleged sale of drugs, the confrontation and the fatal shooting will be central to the investigation.
Jhota’s death has renewed attention on Punjab’s continuing struggle against drug abuse and the alleged illegal sale of addictive medicines. His campaign had brought him into confrontations with medical store owners in the past. However, the latest incident underscores the importance of investigating suspected illegal sales through lawful procedures and ensuring that disputes do not escalate into violence.
