Story perspectives

Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota shot dead in Punjab

By Drooid · Oct 13, 2026, 8:11 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Parvinder Singh Jhota, anti-drug activist, was shot dead by medical store owner Ashwani Kumar in Mansa, Punjab.
Two companions were seriously injured and taken to Mansa Civil Hospital.
Police cordoned the site, set district checkpoints and began reviewing CCTV footage.
Jhota led the ‘Force’ group, livestreamed confrontations and had over 24,000 Facebook followers, sparking regional outrage.

History

Historical Context

India’s Parliament passed the NDPS Act on 23 August 1985, receiving presidential assent 16 September and coming into force 14 November, creating the Narcotics Control Bureau and strict bail rules. Amendments in 2001 and 2014 raised penalties to up to 30 years for repeat trafficking and to one-year imprisonment for small-quantity offences. The 2024 killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota underscores the law’s harsh legacy.

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Story summary

Parvinder Singh Jhota, anti-drug activist, was shot dead by medical store owner Ashwani Kumar in Mansa, Punjab.
Two companions were seriously injured and taken to Mansa Civil Hospital.
Police cordoned the site, set district checkpoints and began reviewing CCTV footage.
Jhota led the ‘Force’ group, livestreamed confrontations and had over 24,000 Facebook followers, sparking regional outrage.

1 / 2