Parvinder Singh Jhota Murder: Main Accused Held in Rajasthan, Weapon Recovered

October 14, 2026

Chandigarh: Police have achieved a major breakthrough in the murder case of Punjab anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota. The main accused, Ashwani Kumar, has been arrested in Rajasthan. Following the incident, people in Mansa protested and demanded strict action against the accused.

According to a senior police officer, Ashwani Kumar, who owned a medical store, was arrested late Tuesday night in Salasar, Rajasthan. Police have also recovered the pistol allegedly used in the crime. Another person has also been detained on suspicion of helping the accused escape after the crime.

Shot after a dispute at a medical store

Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead in broad daylight on Tuesday. It is reported that a dispute between Jhota and the shopkeeper at a medical store allegedly arose over the sale of narcotics. Jhota was campaigning against drug abuse and opposed the alleged illegal sale of drugs through medical stores.

According to police, Jhota allegedly saw Ashwani Kumar selling drugs to an elderly man, after which he confronted him. An argument between the two escalated, and the accused allegedly opened fire. The incident was recorded during Jhota’s Facebook Live, sparking widespread outrage.

Dispute Between the Two Since 2023

Jhota had also confronted the same medical store owner in 2023 over alleged drug sales. It is reported that a long-standing dispute had developed between the two since that incident. Police had previously indicated that an old rivalry may have been a possible motive for the murder.

Following the murder, Jhota’s supporters and local residents were widely outraged. The family and supporters protested, demanding action against the accused. According to reports, the family and supporters refused to cremate the body until their demands were met.

Raja Warring targets the Punjab government

Regarding the incident, former Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring expressed concern over the drug problem in the state. He said that people are worried that Punjab is sinking deeper into the quagmire of drug abuse, which has claimed the lives of countless youth. He alleged that successive governments have made promises to eradicate drug abuse, but little has changed on the ground.

Warring said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had promised to eradicate drug abuse within a month and a half. He alleged that the ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign was heavily publicized and crores of rupees were spent on it, but it was merely a sham, misleading the public.

Tension in Mansa, reports of vandalism at medical stores

Following the incident, tension prevailed in some areas of Mansa, leading to the deployment of additional police forces. According to reports, the accused’s medical store was also vandalized during the protests.

Jhota was known on social media for publicly protesting those he suspected of selling banned or narcotic substances. His murder has once again raised questions about the safety of anti-drug activists in Punjab.