CHANDIGARH: Bhim Singh, father of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota and an ex-Armyman, has refused to cremate his son until the killer is caught, vowing to continue the fight his braveheart son started.Jhota was shot dead by chemist Ashwani Kumar, whom he suspected of selling ‘chitta’ (synthetic drugs), in Mansa on Monday morning. The confrontation was broadcast live on Facebook, and four other people suffered bullet or splinter injuries.Footage showed Kumar following Jhota as he staggered out into the street and took refuge in a shop before opening fire repeatedly. Jhota was hit by three bullets. In the video, he is heard saying, “Mar mainu” (kill me), before Kumar fired. After emptying his magazine, Kumar returned to his shop and fled. Police detained his cousin for allegedly helping him escape.The killing sparked widespread protests in Mansa. Businesses shut down and protesters blocked the Barnala-Sirsa Road. A crowd gathered at Mansa Civil Hospital and clashed with police while demanding that Jhota’s body be taken to the protest site.Bathinda DIG Harjit Singh said the murder stemmed from personal enmity and promised that the accused would be arrested within 24 hours.The killing triggered a political backlash against the AAP government. State finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema and AAP Punjab president Aman Arora condemned the murder, saying it stemmed from personal enmity. Opposition parties accused the government of failing to maintain law and order.Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon wrote to the governor seeking a CBI probe. Congress Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said the murder raised serious questions about the AAP government’s ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ anti-drug campaign. He also referred to the recent suicide of Gulzar Singh and the suicide attempt by Jagseer Singh, alias Jagga, saying the cases should be viewed in the context of concerns over drug availability in Punjab.Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Gargajj described the killing of an activist who had raised his voice against drugs as “a serious matter” and urged the authorities to take note.Police said Jhota and Kumar had a bitter history. In 2023, Jhota had allegedly paraded the chemist through the bazaar with a garland of shoes around his neck, accusing him of selling drugs. Cases were registered against both men.Jhota was arrested on charges of assault, trespass and rioting and remanded in jail. Social and farmers’ organisations staged protests demanding his release. The complainant later approached the court to withdraw the complaint, and Jhota was released on September 11, 2023. The case against Kumar over the alleged sale of prohibited substances remains pending.Jhota continued his anti-drug campaign and had recently raised concerns about medical stores allegedly selling intoxicating pills and synthetic drugs.At around 9.40am on Monday, Jhota went live on social media while confronting Kumar at his pharmacy. He had reportedly met an elderly man who had bought synthetic drugs from a medical store and taken him back to the shop to question Kumar about the alleged sale of prohibited substances. A heated exchange followed before Kumar pulled out a pistol.Mansa Civil Hospital senior medical officer Dr Gurmail Singh said Jhota had been shot twice in the abdomen and once in the right thigh. He died of his injuries. The four other injured people — Kulwinder Singh, Gobind Singh, Baltej Singh and Happy — suffered bullet or splinter injuries and were receiving treatment.
