Mansa, 13 October (H.S.): Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh, popularly known as Jhota, was shot dead at a medical store in Mansa city on Tuesday following an argument over the alleged sale of addictive drugs. Four of his associates were also injured in the firing.

According to available information, Jhota was questioning the medical store owner over the alleged sale of drugs to a person and was recording the conversation on his mobile phone. A live video lasting around 5 minutes and 48 seconds was also streamed on his Facebook page.

In the video, Jhota can reportedly be heard saying that the shop owner had taken out a pistol. Gunshots were fired shortly afterwards.

All five injured persons were taken to the Civil Hospital in Mansa, where doctors declared Jhota dead. Civil Hospital SMO Dr Gurmail Singh said Jhota had sustained three bullet injuries - two in the abdomen and one in the thigh. One of the bullets reportedly pierced his liver, leading to his death. The other four injured persons were said to have suffered relatively minor injuries.

The killing has also brought a July 2023 dispute back into focus. At that time, Jhota and his supporters had allegedly caught Ashwani Kumar, a medical store owner, over accusations of selling banned drugs. A video from the incident reportedly showed Kumar being paraded through the market with a garland of shoes around his neck before being taken to the police station.

An FIR was registered against Ashwani Kumar on Jhota’s complaint, while police later booked Jhota as well for allegedly taking the law into his own hands.

Ashwani Kumar is now accused of shooting Jhota, though his exact role and the full sequence of events remain subject to police investigation.

Mansa SSP Vaibhav Chaudhary said the accused would be arrested soon. Police are also examining whether the firearm used in the crime was licensed or illegal.

Following Jhota’s death, a large number of supporters gathered at the Civil Hospital and later staged a protest at Bara Hatta Chowk. His father said the family would not perform the last rites until justice was delivered.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH