NEW DELHI: Anti-drug activist Parvinder Jhota was shot dead by a medical store owner in Punjab’s Mansa on Monday morning, with the incident captured on camera. Jhota, who had been raising the issue of rampant abuse of drugs in Punjab, had gone to the pharmacy to question its owner about an alleged illegal drug purchase earlier that morning.
In the video, Jhota is seen accusing the pharmacy owner of illegally selling drugs to a man. Jhota threatens to take action against the chemist, leading to an argument that ends with a fatal shooting.
At one point, the shopkeeper is seen pulling out a gun and opening fire at Jhota from close range. He fires multiple shots, several of which hit Jhota. One of Jhota’s companions also suffered serious injuries in the shooting.
After the firing, the medical store owner shut down the shop and fled with police reaching the spot soon after.
The killing has triggered sharp reactions from opposition leaders in Punjab, with the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal targeting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over law and order and its campaign against drugs.
Punjab is set to go to the polls early next year and the issue of drug abuse is a hot-button political topic in the state. While the Opposition has questioned the effectiveness of the AAP government’s drive against drive, the Bhagwant Mann-led administration has countered by saying that the situation was being overblown for political interests.
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