Gurdaspur/Mansa: Another killing linked to opposition to alleged drug sales has triggered fresh concern in Punjab, two days after anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead in Mansa. Forty-year-old Bikramjit Singh was allegedly attacked after objecting to the sale of narcotics in Pannawan village in the Shri Hargobindpur area of Gurdaspur district. He died in the attack, while two other people were seriously injured.
The latest incident comes amid anger over Jhota’s killing and a statewide bandh observed on Thursday, October 15, to demand justice for the slain activist. The back-to-back incidents have put the spotlight on the safety of people who challenge the alleged illegal sale of drugs in Punjab.
Punjab’s drug crisis has reached an alarming level. The killing of 40-year-old Bikramjit Singh in Gurdaspur, just two days after anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was killed in Mansa, raises serious questions about the collapse of law and order under the AAP government.
What has Punjab come to when leading voices in society fighting against drugs must fear for their lives?
Punjab needs decisive action against the drug mafia and safety for its citizens. The people of Punjab deserve accountability and a government that can keep them safe.
— Nitin Nabin (@NitinNabin) October 16, 2026
Parvinder Singh Jhota Shot Dead During Confrontation in Mansa
Jhota, 42, was shot dead on October 13 during a confrontation with medical shop owner Ashwani Kumar in Mansa. The activist had been campaigning against drug abuse and the alleged illegal sale of addictive substances. He was reportedly questioning the shop owner over the sale of such substances to an elderly man when the confrontation turned violent.
Jhota was livestreaming on Facebook when he was shot. The incident sparked outrage, with his family and supporters demanding justice and questions being raised over the safety of those fighting the drug menace.
Police arrested the main accused, Ashwani Kumar, in Rajasthan following the killing. The incident also led to violence in Mansa, where a mob demolished and set fire to the accused’s medical shop. Authorities also demolished part of his house, citing unauthorised construction.
Punjab Bandh Follows Jhota’s Murder
Jhota’s father, Bhim Singh, called for a statewide bandh on October 15, demanding justice for his son. The shutdown received support from opposition parties, including the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, as well as farmer organisations and other groups.
Markets, schools and commercial establishments remained shut in several parts of Punjab, while protests and road blockades disrupted normal movement in some areas. Protesters demanded accountability and a thorough investigation into Jhota’s murder.
The bandh reflected the anger that had built up following the killing of the activist, who had publicly challenged the alleged sale of addictive drugs.
Nitin Nabin Questions AAP Government’s Law and Order Record
BJP national president Nitin Nabin had criticised the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government after Jhota’s murder, questioning how people fighting against drugs could remain safe in Punjab.
In a post on X on October 13, Nabin wrote that the killing exposed what he described as the alarming state of law and order under the AAP government.
“The Aam Aadmi Party came to power promising a drug-free Punjab. Today, those who stand up against drugs are themselves at risk,” he said, calling it a serious failure of governance.
Nabin also questioned who could feel safe in the state if people fighting the drug mafia were themselves in danger. He said the people of Punjab deserved answers and accountability.
Bikramjit Singh’s killing in Gurdaspur, coming just two days after Jhota’s death, has brought those concerns back into focus. The latest incident has added to questions over the state’s response to drug-related crime and the protection available to people who oppose the alleged drug trade.
The circumstances of the two killings are being reported separately, but both incidents have intensified public attention on Punjab’s drug problem and the risks faced by those who speak out against it.