Full Breakdown
Parvinder Singh Jhota’s Murder Sparks Statewide Bandh and Political Fallout in Punjab
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
- October 13, 2026 – Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead at a medical store in Mansa while livestreaming a confrontation with shop owner Ashwani Kumar. Police received the first report at ? 10:30 a.m.; Kumar used a licensed pistol and fled. “The police received information about the incident…the accused identified as Ashwani appeared to have used a licensed weapon…The associate of the main accused has been arrested. Efforts are underway to apprehend the main accused soon.” — DIG
- Kumar was arrested the next day in Salasar, Rajasthan, after a joint Punjab-Rajasthan operation. “The case is being investigated thoroughly and the accused will be arrested within 24 hours,” — Vaibhav Choudhary, Senior Superintendent of Police, Mansa.
- Jhota’s father, ex-serviceman Bhim Singh, refused cremation until a full investigation is completed.
Background & Context
- Jhota, a former boxer, became a prominent anti-drug activist, exposing alleged illegal sales in chemist shops through live videos.
- Punjab’s “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh” campaign, launched by the AAP government, targets drug trafficking but has faced criticism over implementation.
- From April 1 2025 to September 30 2026, the health department inspected 16,788 chemist premises, suspending 520 licences, cancelling 22, seizing medicines worth Rs 20.6 crore, and initiating 54 court cases.
Official Statements & Responses
- Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann pledged “the strictest punishment” and directed DGP Gaurav Yadav to ensure a thorough probe.
- Deputy Commissioner Jaskaran Singh Teja said police would not force shop closures and that sufficient force had been deployed to keep the peace.
- Punjab Police affirmed its commitment to strict action and maintaining law and order.
- Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh ordered intensified inspections of chemist shops.
Criticism & Opposition
- Congress MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring condemned the “failed law and order” of the AAP government and called for resignations of the chief minister and DGP.
- BJP national president Nitin Nabin described the killing as evidence of administrative failure.
- Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal called the incident a “heinous murder” reflecting a collapse of law and order.
- Former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi alleged Punjab Police were being used to hide the government’s shortcomings.
On-the-Ground Reports
- In Mansa, markets stayed shut; a mob—including some Nihang Sikhs—used a bulldozer to demolish Kumar’s shop and set it ablaze, while authorities razed part of his house for unauthorized construction.
- Private schools in Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Moga and Mansa shifted to online classes; emergency services continued operating.
- Protesters burned an effigy of CM Mann at Amritsar’s Golden Gate and demanded resignations of senior officials.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Motive: Bathinda Range DIG Harjeet Singh suggested a “personal enmity” from a 2023 dispute, while Jhota’s family and opposition allege a broader “drug-mafia” conspiracy. No definitive conclusion has been released.
- Weapon licence: Bhim Singh questioned how Kumar obtained a licensed firearm; the investigation has not clarified this point.
What’s Next
The joint action committee formed after the murder continues to demand a CBI probe, the resignation of CM Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav, and dismissal of senior police officers in Mansa. The committee urges the public to observe the bandh peacefully while monitoring the investigation.