Parwinder Singh Jhota: Caught on cam: Punjab anti-drug activist shot dead after confronting chemist over alleged drug sales | Chandigarh News
BATHINDA: Anti-drug activist Parwinder Singh Jhota was shot dead at Mansa on Tuesday morning. Four others sustained injuries when a chemist fired multiple shots at Parwinder.The chemist, identified as Ashwani Kumkar when confronted by Parwinder along with others, fired inside his shop and followed Parwinder Jhota out in the market while openly flaunting a revolver and fired again at Jhota.Parwinder was preparing a video clip while getting online on social networking site Facebook when the chemist fired at him and the firing incident was recorded on camera. When taken to Mansa Civil Hospital, Parwinder (45) was declared brought dead.Parwinder Singh was acting against the drug menace for a long time and lately he was raising voice against certain medical stores accusing them of selling intoxicating pills and synthetic drugs apart from other prohibited substances.ALSO READ: ‘Rahul grabbed my hand, pushed me’: Pregnant journalist alleges assault during protestOn Tuesday morning, Jhota met an old person who had bought synthetic drugs from a medical store. Jhota took the man to the medical store and asked the chemist why he was selling prohibited substances.Over it he had some exchanges and the store owner pulled a weapon and fired at Jhota, who was an active member of anti drug brigade.Facing bullet injury, Parwinder Jhota ran away but the chemist fired at him again and finally Parwinder fell down in another shop.As per information, Jhota in July 2023 had dishounored the same chemist by putting a garland of shoes around his neck accusing him of selling synthetic drugs.Then a case was registered against Jhota and he was arrested. The activists of a number of social and farmer organisations held protests for days for discharging Jhota from the case.Buckling under public pressure, the state government relented and paved the way for the release of Parwinder Singh. Parwinder came out of jail on September 11 after spending nearly two months in jail. His release was ensured after complainant had approached the court for withdrawing the complaint.The chemist is also facing cases for selling prohibited substances.Mansa Civil Hospital SMO Dr Gurmail Singh said that 5 injured were brought to the hospital with one of them identified as Parwinder Singh had three bullets, one in right thigh and one each on either side of the abdomen, who succumbed to injuries while four others identified as Kulwinder Singh, Gobind Singh, Baltej Singh and Happy too sustained injuries.Mansa SSP Vaibhav Chaudhary said the shopkeeper has been identified and police is on the job to arrest him.ALSO READ: Pakistan angle under probe? Delhi Police files 4 FIRs over fake posts since October 10
