Anti-drug activist murder: Supporters of Parvinder Singh Jhota set fire to accused’s house

Supporters of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota took over the demolition of a medical store owned by Ashwani Kumar and set it on fire after the administrator's JCB demolished part of the shop.

A heavy police deployment remained at the spot as protesters pulled out medicines from the store and then set the premises on fire.

Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead on Tuesday in Mansa, Punjab, outside the drug store owned by Kumar while he was protesting the sale of narcotics.

The main accused, Ashwani Kumar, was arrested from Rajasthan in a joint operation by both Punjab and Rajasthan police.

The supporters of the activist raised slogans outside the store on Wednesday, including Bole So Nihal”, “Yudh Nashian Virudh” and “Yudh Nasha Rokan Walian Virudh. One of them found pregablin capsules among the medications, which activists said were prohibited in Punjab.

The activist said that the discovery reinforced that Jhota had a personal enmity with the store owner and that his fight was with the sale of prohibited substances.

The Activist’s father, meanwhile, reported that he would not perform his son's last rites.

Jhota was shot dead on camera at 9:15 am on Tuesday. The 45-year-old had gone to Ashwani’s drug store to question him on whether he was selling narcotics after receiving information that they were selling banned narcotic pills.

He entered a heated argument with Ashwani, who then pulled out a pistol and shot Jhota and the men accompanying him.

Opposition leaders have questioned the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government over the alleged failure of law and order.