Anti-drug activist shot dead in Punjab over illegal medicine sales

An anti-drug activist was shot dead in Punjab in what appears to be a targeted killing linked to his work exposing illegal pharmaceutical sales. Parvinder Singh Jhota, known for his campaigns against the unlicensed distribution of controlled substances at medical stores across the state, was killed in circumstances that police are actively investigating.

Jhota had built a reputation for documenting cases of chemists illegally selling addictive medications without proper prescriptions or regulatory oversight. His activism had made him a vocal critic of what he characterized as systemic failures in pharmaceutical regulation and enforcement across Punjab's retail medicine sector.

A medical store owner is at the centre of the investigation into his death. Authorities have begun examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the potential connection to Jhota's activism. The incident has raised alarm among civil society groups working on drug policy issues in the region.

The killing underscores the risks faced by activists working on public health and regulatory issues in Punjab, where illegal drug trafficking and the misuse of pharmaceutical products remain persistent problems. State authorities have said they are committed to investigating the case thoroughly and ensuring justice for the activist.