Punjab Anti-Drug Activist Shot Dead

Parvinder Singh Jhota, an anti-drug activist from Punjab, was shot dead in Mansa on October 13, 2026, after a confrontation with a medical-store owner over the alleged sale of addictive drugs. The incident was captured during a Facebook Live broadcast, according to media reports.

Jhota had gone to the medical store with companions and questioned its owner about the alleged sale of drugs to a customer earlier that day. An argument followed, during which the shop owner was reportedly seen holding a firearm before opening fire.

Jhota sustained gunshot injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead. Reports also said that people accompanying him were injured in the shooting; early accounts differed on the number and severity of those injuries.

After the shooting, the medical-store owner reportedly left the scene. Police reached the location and began investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing and the allegations raised during the confrontation. The suspect was reported to be on the run in early coverage.

Jhota had been campaigning against drug abuse in Mansa and nearby areas for several years. He gained attention through videos in which he challenged medical stores over the alleged sale of intoxicating medicines and substances without proper controls.

He had previously come into the public spotlight in 2023 following a dispute involving a medical-store owner. Police registered cases against Jhota and some of his associates in connection with that episode, and he was arrested before being released after about two months, according to reports.

The killing has renewed attention on alleged illegal drug sales and the risks faced by people who publicly confront suspected suppliers. The allegations concerning the medical store remain subject to investigation, and responsibility for the shooting must be established through the legal process.