Jalandhar: The broad-daylight killing of anti-drugs activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, 42, in Punjab’s Mansa district on Tuesday, October 13, has sent shock waves across the country and raised doubts about the ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) claims that it has “broken the backbone” the state’s drug problem.At the heart of the debate is Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s much publicised anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nasheya Virudh’ (War Against Drugs), launched on March 1, 2025, with the aim of wiping out drugs from Punjab. The campaign is also seen as the AAP government’s attempt to fulfil its promise of tackling drug abuse ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for February 2027.AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal had promised to eliminate drugs from the state within four weeks of forming the government. However, four and half years later, drug abuse continues to be a rampant issue as the government tries to stifle questions over the effectiveness of its anti-drug drive.A first information report (FIR) (no. 0269) was registered on October 12 at the City-2 police station in Mansa on the statement of Jhota’s father, Bheem Singh. The case was lodged under sections 103(1), 109, 118(1), 61(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act, 1959.The police have arrested the accused, Ashwani Kumar, while further investigation is underway.Jhota’s family is yet to perform his last rites and is demanding the resignation of CM Mann and Punjab director general of police Gaurav Yadav.“Whether it takes a month or two [for the AAP government to fall], no cremation will take place till CM Mann resigns,” said his father. The family has also demanded the dismissal of the local station house officer (SHO), deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and Mansa senior superintendent of police (SSP).Bheem Singh, Parvinder Singh Jhota’s father, mourning his loss, Photo: X/@Hardisohi.Meanwhile, a committee formed to seek justice for Jhota’s murder announced a Punjab bandh for Thursday, October 15. Jhota is survived by his elderly parents, wife and two sons.Jhota had been confronting a chemist over alleged sale of addictive substancesJhota, a popular face of the state’s anti-drugs campaign, was shot dead on the morning of October 13 after reaching Ashwani’s chemist shop in Mansa with his team to question him over the alleged sale of addictive substances.He was live streaming the confrontation on Facebook when an argument broke out between the two. Ashwani, who was carrying a pistol, opened fire and fatally injured Jhota. Four other passers-by also sustained bullet injuries as the accused allegedly continued firing in the street. The livestreamed footage went viral on social media, triggering anger among Jhota’s followers and residents across Punjab.For around three years, Jhota had been questioning Ashwani over the sale of addictive capsules and tablets to young people, including children as young as 12. Ashwani had even faced charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) earlier, resulting in the cancellation of his license. However, he somehow managed to continue running his shop with impunity.In 2023, Jhota had reportedly garlanded Ashwani with shoes and paraded him through the market for allegedly selling drugs. “My son kept informing the police, but they did not take any action against Ashwani Kumar. Even on the day of his murder, Jhota had informed the local DSP but nobody came,” said Bheem, blaming the state government, Mann and Yadav for his son’s death.Following the tragedy, angry residents tore down newly installed hoardings of Mann bearing the slogan ‘Imandaar CM’ (honest CM), as well as boards highlighting AAP’s achievements in Mansa.On October 14, the district administration demolished Ashwani’s chemist shop. An angry mob subsequently set the shop on fire. A portion of his house was also demolished by the administration.How did Jhota’s killing trigger a state-wide political row?An avid sports enthusiast, Jhota enjoyed boxing and cricket and used to study at Lyallpur Khalsa College in Jalandhar, where he reportedly struggled with drug use during his younger years. According to people who knew him, he was also involved in local fights.Jhota subsequently quit drugs after some young people in his neighbourhood died of overdoses, resolving to fight the menace instead.Farmer union leader and author Sukhdarshan Singh Natt, who had known Jhota since childhood, told The Wire that Jhota had campaigned against drugs while also supporting AAP before the party came to power.Jhota with his sons, Photo: X.“Not only he waged a war against drugs, but he also worked overnight to support AAP. Jhota was a staunch AAP supporter, but when the AAP government came to power and failed to fulfil its promises, he felt disillusioned. Even Mansa MLA Vijay Singla was also very well known to Jhota but he distanced himself from him as well,” he shared.Also read: Bishnoi, a Punjab Cop, ‘John Wick,’ and ‘Jai Shri Ram’: The 37 Men Named in ‘Operation Hard Ball’Describing Jhota as fearless, Natt said he would regularly livestream videos on Facebook while exposing alleged drug suppliers. Jhota’s videos quickly made him a recognised face of the anti-drug campaign in the region. Ashwani, meanwhile, continued to escape police action, according to Natt.According to the data gathered by The Wire, Punjab Police registered 65,927 cases and arrested 84,971 people during its anti-drug operation between March 1, 2025, and October 12, 2026.The report said police recovered 4,267.756 kg of heroin, 0.647 kg of smack and 1,025.782 kg of opium during the period. They also recovered 6,604,156 tablets and capsules, 4,298 injections and 49,276.752 kg of poppy husk.Apart from this, the police also seized Rs 22.67 crore, earned from drug trade, from the accused.Opposition slams AAP, demands CM’s resignationAddressing the gathering at the dharna staged by Jhota’s family in Mansa, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Pargat Singh said the war against “medical nasha” began with a capsule – Signature Pregabalin – which was banned in 2022 during the Congress rule. However, it was being sold again under another name, he said.Pargat said, “The fact is that the center government wants to decimate Punjab and Punjabiyat. The ‘deep state’ does not want Punjab to grow and prosper. Every state has two major resources – natural resources and human resources. Sadly, unfortunately we have ruined both.”Congress government banned this capsule in December 2021, yet its illegal sale continues on a large scale across the Malwa region.This dangerous medical drug, which threatens the lives of our youth, was recovered multiple times from the same medical store, with more than three police cases registered in this regard.Who is allowing this trade to continue despite repeated recoveries and police cases? This drug is being sold under political and police patronage. #Punjab #DrugMafia— Pargat Singh (@PargatSOfficial) October 15, 2026The PPCC president also said that people needed to understand how Punjabis and Sikhs were being misused. “Parvinder Singh Jhota is not the lone victim, we need to save our youths from this menace. We are heading towards a state of chaos and anarchy, and this is primarily because of a weak Chief Minister and DGP in the state,” he added.Earlier, the PPCC chief had also appealed to medical associations to identify the black sheep among them and save Punjab’s youth from the scourge of drugs.📍 MansaWe stand firmly with Parminder Singh Jhota’s family and the people demanding justice at the protest in Mansa.Under @AamAadmiParty government, drugs continue to destroy Punjab’s youth. Political patronage and police complicity in the drug trade demand a thorough investigation and accountability. #Punjab #DrugMafia— Pargat Singh (@PargatSOfficial) October 14, 2026Pargat lashed out at the Akalis for bringing ‘chitta’ (heroin) and AAP for bringing “medical nasha” to Punjab, further ruining the youth. “Had CM Bhagwant Mann acted well on time on Jhota’s complaint, he would have been here with us today,” he maintained.Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira also said that AAP’s Yudh Nasheya Virudh campaign existed only on paper or on walls in the form of publicity. “The fact is that drugs are being sold in every village and lane of around 13,000 villages of Punjab,” he said.Khaira demanded a CBI probe and called for a thorough investigation into whom the accused was speaking to over the phone when he opened fire at Jhota. The Congress leader also lashed out at the AAP government for allegedly targeting those who raised their voices against drug abuse in the state.“Whoever speaks against CM Bhagwant Mann whether a politician, activist or journalist, they are slapped with an FIR. Even showing a black flag to CM has become a crime under this government,” he said, adding that Punjab had become a police state while government agents were shielding drug suppliers.When asked about Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema’s statement that Jhota’s murder was the result of personal animosity with the accused, Khaira said that Cheema should apologise 100 times for making such a statement.“We just cannot trust this government. President rule should be imposed to ensure free and fair elections in Punjab,” he demanded.Similarly, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal wrote on X:“Drug Mafia is ruling Punjab. Guru Dokhi CM Bhagwant Mann is solely responsible for this state of affairs and must own his failure and resign immediately. SAD stands firmly with the family of Parvinder Singh Jhota.The party wholeheartedly supports the Punjab bandh call given by his father and expresses solidarity with all Punjabis suffering from the scourge of drugs.We demand that the entire conspiracy behind Jhota’s murder including the delay by the police in reaching the medical store despite Jhota’s appeal be probed by the CBI, as desired by the bereaved father.”Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar also wrote on X that, a few days earlier, the Punjab DGP had admitted that ‘medical nasha’ was increasing in the state.“The AAP government should inform the people of Punjab what steps have been taken to stop this form of drugs. How much medical drugs have been seized by the government so far,” he said.ਮਾਨਸਾ ਵਿਚ ਨਸ਼ੇ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਅਵਾਜ਼ ਉਠਾਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਦੇ ਕਤਲ ਨੇ ਇਕ ਵਾਰ ਫਿਰ ਮਾਨ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੇ ਯੁੱਧ ਨਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਅਭਿਆਨ ਦਾ ਸੱਚ ਉਜਾਗਰ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਪਿੱਛਲੇ ਦਿਨੀ ਡੀਜੀਪੀ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਚ ਮੈਡੀਕਲ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਵੱਧ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਫਿਰ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਕਣ ਲਈ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੇ ਕੀ ਕਦਮ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ ਤੇ ਕਿੰਨਾਂ ਮੈਡੀਕਲ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਫੜਿਆਂ ਗਿਆ, ਲੋਕ ਇਹ ਜਾਨਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ।ਕੀ ਮੈਡੀਕਲ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਰੋਕਣ ਦੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ ਡਰੱਗ ਇੰਸਪੈਕਟਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਨਹੀਂ, ਜਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਡਿਊਟੀ ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਤੋਂ ਆਏ ਧਾੜਵੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਉਗਰਾਹੀ ਕਰਨ ਤੱਕ ਹੀ ਸੀਮਤ ਰਹਿ ਗਈ ਹੈ।ਭਗਵੰਤ ਮਾਨ ਜੀ, ਭਾਵੇਂ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਾਗਜੀ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਹੀ ਹੋ, ਪਰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਜਵਾਬਦੇਹੀ ਤਾਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਹੀ ਬਣਦੀ ਹੈ।— Sunil Jakhar (@sunilkjakhar) October 13, 2026Jakhar also questioned whether it was not the responsibility of drug inspectors to stop the sale of such substances, asking whether their only job was to extract money for the party’s Delhi leadership.Taking a dig at Mann, Jakhar said, “Even if you are a CM on papers, the responsibility towards Punjab is yours only.”Punjab’s youths being killed for opposing drug abuse: Akal Takht JathedarTerming Parvinder Singh Jhota’s killing a huge loss for the Panth and Punjab and a serious failure of the AAP government, Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said Punjab’s youth were being killed in two ways: first, through drug overdoses and, second, for opposing drug smuggling.Gargajj also said he was deeply pained to hear Cheema’s statement that Jhota had a personal dispute with the accused and that this was why he was killed. “Cheema should clarify what this personal dispute was all about. Opposing drugs and drug peddlers cannot be termed as personal dispute,” he said.Also read: From Viral Reels to Threats and Murder: Punjab’s Dangerous ‘Trend’ of Targeting InfluencersHe recalled that a Sikh youth who had opposed drugs in Gaggu Bua village in Tarn Taran district had recently also been killed in broad daylight by a drug trafficker in a similar manner.“Jhota’s killing is part of a larger conspiracy to destroy Punjab’s youth and immediate action should be taken against the accused and all those involved,” he added.Drug commissioner should have cancelled chemist’s license: Pyara Lal GargSpeaking to The Wire, social activist and doctor Pyara Lal Garg said the broad-daylight murder of Jhota spoke volumes about the AAP government’s approach to tackling the drug issue in Punjab.“The AAP government should have directed the Drug Commissioner, Punjab, to cancel Ashwani’s license. The AAP government is solely responsible for Jhota’s killing, as he kept raising voice against the accused, but no action was taken. Police cannot act because they are hand in gloves with drug suppliers in Punjab,” he said.On the AAP government’s Yudh Nasheya Virudh campaign, Garg said the Punjab government had turned drug abuse into a “techno legal” problem, whereas it was a socio-political-economic issue.Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal meets with Jhota’s family, Photo: PTI.“The solution of drug abuse neither lies in punitive measures, sowing opium, opening drug de addiction centres nor in imprisoning the accused, rather it lies in community effort. People need to do ‘community vigilantism’ and avoid ‘self-vigilantism’, to bring mass change against the scourge of drugs,” he said.He also questioned whether the AAP government had planned any social, physical, economic and psychological rehabilitation for the victims.“The answer is no. None of the governments ever thought on these lines, which exposes the hollowness of campaigns like Yudh Nasheya Virudh,” he added.Police under AAP, sheilding drug peddlers: NattNatt said Jhota had been raising his voice against Ashwani and his alleged drug supply network for the past two and a half years.“Ashwani’s chemist shop was sealed earlier while he was caught red handed supplying drugs on many occasions. Jhota even took him to the police station and handed him over to the police but he kept supplying drugs from his shop,” Natt told The Wire.“The Punjab Police, instead of cancelling his chemist license, provided him with an Arms license,” he said, adding that Jhota regularly gave the police lists of chemist shop owners allegedly involved in drug sales.Natt said, “We have no qualms in saying that the police shield these drug suppliers and extort money from them, else how could a person like Ashwani Kumar despite facing serious charges of drug supply still run his shop.”Not the only case under AAP ruleJhota’s killing is not the only case in which a person raising concerns about drug abuse has allegedly faced pressure or violence in Punjab under the AAP government.In September, Gulzar Singh, 40, from Toor Banjara village in Sangrur district, died by suicide after questioning Punjab finance minister Cheema about the drug menace during an event in his village in Dirba. Gulzar, whose son was battling drug addiction, blamed the police for pressuring him to apologise to the AAP government. He later died after consuming poison.Similarly, anti-drug activist Mohanjit Singh, a resident of Sheron village in Sangrur district, was peacefully protesting from a distance during Mann’s visit to his village in September when the police picked him up and took him into custody. Mohanjit alleged that he had been tortured by the police, while the police denied the allegations.Earlier, in 2019, during the Congress government’s tenure, drug inspector Neha Shoree was shot dead in Kharar, near Chandigarh, after cancelling the licence of a chemist who was allegedly storing unauthorised tablets consumed by drug users.Mann promises strict actionIn a video statement released on X, Mann expressed his condolences over Jhota’s murder, promising strict retribution against those responsible.“The youth of Punjab is our asset, and any tampering with the law and order situation in the state will not be tolerated at any cost. Instructions have been issued to the police to take strict action in this matter. Strict action as per the law will be ensured against those who take the law into their own hands,” he said.Mann also claimed that the government will brutally crack down on those peddling drugs in the state, stating that his party, as well as the state administration, had a “zero tolerance policy” against drug abuse.ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਮਾਨਸਾ ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਈ ਮੰਦਭਾਗੀ ਘਟਨਾ ਅਤਿ-ਨਿੰਦਣਯੋਗ ਹੈ…ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਜਵਾਨੀ ਸਾਡਾ ਸਰਮਾਇਆ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਸੂਬੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਮਨ-ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਦੀ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਖਿਲਵਾੜ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਕੀਮਤ ‘ਤੇ ਬਰਦਾਸ਼ਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਇਸ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਸਖ਼ਤ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਨਿਰਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਹੱਥਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੈਣ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸਖ਼ਤ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਯਕੀਨੀ ਬਣਾਈ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ।— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) October 14, 2026