EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.VINAY KOCHHAR/MANSA/CHANDIGARH.
An anti-drug activist has been murdered in Punjab’s Mansa district. The main accused, a medical store owner, has been arrested in Rajasthan, sources said on Wednesday. Family members and villagers have blocked the national highway in protest against the Punjab government. Accused Ashwini Kumar has been detained in Salasar. Police have also used a JCB to demolish the accused’s house. Police also arrived near the accused’s medical shop. Expressing their anger, people at the scene set the medical shop on fire. Police used force to disperse the crowd and demolish the shop. Meanwhile, the deceased’s family and villagers are protesting at the HH. The family is adamant on having the case investigated by the CBI.
Following the shooting, tension spread in Mansa city, where supporters vandalized the medical shop. Jhota’s family refused to cremate his body in protest. Police arrested an associate on Tuesday who had helped the store owner escape.
The murder drew widespread condemnation from political leaders, who accused the ruling AAP government of deteriorating law and order. Opposition parties accused the Bhagwant Mann government of “jungle raj” and questioned the safety of anti-drug advocates.
This was the case: Anti-Drug Task Force leader Parminder Singh Jhota was shot dead on Tuesday. A shopkeeper opened fire on him. He was admitted to the Mansa Civil Hospital in a critical condition, where he died.
Parminder Singh Jhota had long been protesting the sale of drugs at medical stores in the city. He had also clashed with several shopkeepers over this issue. On Tuesday, he had arrived at a medical store near the railway crossing in the city’s main market when the shopkeeper opened fire on him. The shopkeeper continued firing openly. Parminder Singh Jhota tried to save his life by hiding inside a shop.
Warding attacks the AAP government
Congress MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has targeted the Bhagwant Mann government over the murder of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota. Expressing concern over the drug problem in Punjab, he said that the drug crisis in the state is worsening, with a growing number of youth falling prey to drugs every day. He also questioned the government’s anti-drug campaigns, alleging that they have not yielded the desired results and misled the public.
Raja Warring said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had claimed that drug abuse would be eradicated from Punjab within a month and a half. Subsequently, the government launched campaigns like “War Against Drugs” and spent crores of rupees on these campaigns. However, according to him, the impact of these campaigns has not been visible on the ground. He said that this situation is a matter of serious concern not only for Punjab but also for Punjabis living around the world. Meanwhile, Warring met with Parminder Singh Jhota’s family and offered condolences.
Police detained leaders from various organizations
In the case of the murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, organizations had appealed to people from across Punjab to reach Mansa to seek justice for the family. Leaders from various organizations in Moga were also expected to reach Mansa. Beginning around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Moga police began detaining leaders from various organizations from their homes to prevent them from reaching Mansa.
These are the demands of the victim’s family
Regarding the Mansa Parminder Jhota murder case, family members and members of the public have demanded the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. They have demanded the dismissal of the Punjab DGP. Furthermore, the protesters have announced a Punjab shutdown on October 15th.
BJP burns CM Mann’s effigy in Jalandhar
In protest of the murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota, the BJP held a demonstration in Jalandhar and burned an effigy of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. BJP leaders alleged that drug smugglers and criminals are emboldened in Punjab, and that the safety of ordinary citizens is at risk. They questioned the government’s handling of the Jhota murder and demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation. Several senior leaders and workers of the Jalandhar BJP Urban Party participated in large numbers during the protest. BJP leader and State Vice President Rakesh Rathore said that the situation in Punjab has become extremely worrying. He alleged that Parvinder Singh Jhota had previously protested against a medical store owner for allegedly selling drugs, but timely action was not taken. Rathore claimed that those raising their voices against drug abuse are now being shot in public. He said that the young generation is being affected by drug abuse, overdoses, and criminal incidents. According to him, the BJP is protesting against the government across Punja
Punjab in turmoil over Jhota murder
The daylight shooting death of Parvinder Singh Jhota, a drug campaigner in Mansa, Punjab, has escalated into a major controversy. On Wednesday, Ludhiana rural police stopped Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali and over 50 of his supporters, who were on their way to join a sit-in protest in Mansa, were detained by Ludhiana rural police in Halwara. Reports have emerged that Ayali’s companions, who are in charge of the Malwa zone of the Akali Dal (Warrior Punjab), were taken to an undisclosed location in Raikot by police in buses. Following the incident, police deployed security at Halwara Chowk. Police tightened security at several locations to prevent people from traveling to Mansa to protest the Jhota murder. This police action has further escalated the situation amid reports of people being detained for participating in the protest. However, the total number of people detained at various locations and their locations could not be independently confirmed.
Mansa District Border Sealed
Announcements are being made in various villages across Punjab, urging people to reach Mansa. In response to the growing crowd, the police administration has sealed the Mansa district border and deployed police personnel to prevent more people from reaching there. Sources indicate that on Wednesday, the district administration began the paperwork to demolish the shop of the main accused, Ashwani. Therefore, the police administration could demolish the accused’s shop at any time.
National Human Rights Commission Requests Report
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Member Priyank Kanoongo said, “The brutal murder of a social activist working against drug abuse in Punjab is a very serious matter. This is a failure of law and order. The drug mafia, under the guise of medicine, has become so arrogant that they are willing to silence those who speak out by shooting them. This situation is extremely dangerous. We have lost many lives in Punjab during the era of terrorism. This drug era is threatening to plunge Punjab into the same situation. We have issued notices to the DGP and Chief Secretary and requested a detailed report from them, but it is a sign of anarchy that those who speak out against drug abuse are being shot. This is dangerous. We are monitoring the situation. We will ensure that anyone raising their voice against the evil of drug abuse, whether in Punjab or anywhere in the country, remains responsible for the safety of their lives.”###USA###UK###CANADA###PUNJAB###JHOTA###MANSA###CHANDIGARH###AAP###CM###MANN###BJP###CONGRESS###NHRC###DGP###AUSTRALIA###NEWZEALAND###AUSTRIA###SINGAPORE###ITLAY###FRANCE###