Bathinda: Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead by a chemist in Mansa town for objecting to alleged illegal sale of synthetic drugs during a confrontation he livestreamed on Facebook, sending shockwaves across Punjab and triggering sharp attacks from the opposition against the AAP govt.With his mobile video camera rolling, the 45-year-old arrived at the medical store with a group of men and an elderly person at 9.40am. He accused the chemist, identified as Ashwani Kumar, of selling banned drugs to the senior citizen. Kumar stood behind a counter, drew a loaded gun and hid it behind his back, while denying the charges, footage showed. During a fierce nearly one-minute exchange over his weapon and sale of banned substances, Parwinder dared the chemist, shouting “maar mainu, maar mainu (kill me)”. Kumar fired, sending the crowd scrambling. A bullet struck Parwinder and his mobile fell, ending the livestream. The chemist chased a fleeing and an injured Parwinder into the market and shot him again as bystanders continued filming. Parwinder collapsed in another shop. Kumar returned to his store brandishing the weapon. He is yet to be arrested, while his cousin Vipin, was apprehended for aiding his escape, police said.The daylight killing triggered outrage. The opposition tore into the AAP govt over the deteriorating law and order and drug menace in the state. BJP demanded a CBI probe, SAD called for President’s Rule in the state and Congress announced protests.Hours after the murder, activists, supporters of Parwinder and members of Nihang organisations vandalised the medical store despite heavy police deployment. Outnumbered, police personnel failed to contain the protesters who broke open the shutters, ransacked the shop and smashed furniture.The town also shut down. Shopkeepers observed a bandh. Locals held a sit-in at the market and blocked Barnala-Sirsa road. A large number of people assembled at the civil hospital and had a showdown with the police as they wanted to take the body to the protest site.Mansa civil hospital senior medical officer Dr Gurmail Singh said Pawrinder sustained three bullet wounds—one in the right thigh and two in the abdomen—and was declared dead upon arrival. Four others, identified as Kulwinder Singh, Gobind Singh, Baltej Singh and Happy, sustained injuries.According to police, Parwinder and the chemist had a history of conflict. In July 2023, Parwinder was jailed for nearly two months on charges of assault, trespass, and rioting after allegedly parading Kumar through the market with a garland of shoes for selling synthetic drugs. Jhota was released on Sept 11, 2023, after public protests and the complainant’s move to withdraw the case. Kumar also faces ongoing charges for selling prohibited substances.Parwinder had been acting against the drug menace for a long time and lately started raising voice against certain medical stores for allegedly selling intoxicating pills and synthetic drugs apart from other prohibited substances.At the civil hospital, angry protesters raised slogans against the AAP govt and local MLA Vijay Singla, accusing them of failing to stop the drug supplies. Parwinder’s father ex-serviceman Bhim Singh said the only fault of his son was that he was trying to save youth from falling prey to drugs. He refused to perform the last rites until Kumar was arrested.Bhim Singh vowed to continue the fight against drug peddlers as a tribute to his son.“I am still alive and pledge to fight against the drug peddlers as my son was waging a war against them. I am also ready to take a bullet if the peddlers are not taken to task,” said the 72-year-old at the civil hospital. Bhim, who had spent some years in the Army, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah to ensure the security of his two grandchildren.He said despite his son facing threats for fearlessly raising his voice against the drug peddlers and medical stores selling habit- forming drugs, the family got no protection from the state govt. He also demanded the investigation be handed over to CBI.“The state govt failed to protect my son and I appeal to the PM and HM to protect my grandchildren as they too may be at risk,” said Bhim Singh.He endorsed the call for a Punjab bandh on Oct 15 given by an action committee.Bathinda DIG Harjit Singh and Mansa SSP Vaibhav Chaudhary said police are actively searching for Kumar, while his cousin, Vipin, has been arrested for aiding his escape.
