Punjab anti-drug activist killed in confrontation with accused shopkeeper

Parvinder Singh Jhota, a well-known anti-narcotics activist, was fatally shot during an altercation with a shopkeeper in Mansa district this week, sparking widespread outrage in Punjab's civil society.

According to preliminary reports, Jhota was killed after confronting the shop owner over alleged drug sales. The incident has reignited concerns about the persistence of the drug trade in Punjab, a state that has long grappled with substance abuse issues affecting youth and communities.

The Akal Takht, the supreme guiding body of Sikhs, has characterized Jhota as a martyr in the fight against narcotics. The designation underscores the gravity with which religious and community leaders view his death and the broader crisis of drug trafficking in the region.

The killing has prompted renewed calls from civil activists and religious leaders for stricter enforcement against drug dealers and enhanced protection for those working to combat the trade. Police investigations into the circumstances of Jhota's death are reportedly underway.