Story perspectives

Anti-drug activist Parvinder Jhota shot dead in Punjab

By Drooid · Oct 17, 2026, 4:16 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead in broad daylight in Mansa, Punjab on Tuesday.
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann rebuked Minister Amit Shah and demanded explanation for a 3,000 kg heroin seizure at Kandla port.
Mann accused BJP-ruled Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana governments of facilitating drug routes into Punjab.
Police constable Karandeep Singh was arrested by the Border Security Force with 15 kg of heroin, indicating police involvement in smuggling.

History

Historical Context

Built in the 1950s and renamed Deendayal Port in 2017, Kandla has long been Gujarat’s chief west-coast gateway, hosting India’s first SEZ in 1965 and handling over 132 million tonnes of cargo in 2023-24. In 1995 the Narcotics Control Bureau seized 2,500 kg of heroin there, the nation’s biggest bust, exposing links between smugglers and officials—a pattern critics say persists in today’s activist murder and ministerial accusations.

1 of 2

Story summary

Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead in broad daylight in Mansa, Punjab on Tuesday.
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann rebuked Minister Amit Shah and demanded explanation for a 3,000 kg heroin seizure at Kandla port.
Mann accused BJP-ruled Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana governments of facilitating drug routes into Punjab.
Police constable Karandeep Singh was arrested by the Border Security Force with 15 kg of heroin, indicating police involvement in smuggling.

1 / 2