Punjab Anti-Drug Activist Murder: Main Accused Nabbed from Rajasthan

Punjab Police have apprehended the primary accused in the high-profile murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota from Rajasthan following an extensive interstate manhunt. The suspect, a local medical store owner identified as Ashwani Kumar, was taken into custody in Salasar town.

Jhota was shot dead in broad daylight on October 13 after confronting the chemist at his establishment in Mansa district over the alleged sale of restricted substances to an elderly resident. The confrontation and subsequent shooting were captured on a live video stream recorded by the victim, escalating public pressure on law enforcement agencies.

Senior police officials confirmed that the suspect was tracked down and detained by police teams operating across state lines. Investigators recovered the licensed firearm allegedly used in the offense from the accused, who had fled the region immediately after the incident.

Following the daylight killing, tension gripped Mansa district as local residents and supporters of the slain activist took to the streets in protest. Demonstrators gathered to demand strict administrative action, while civil authorities and local police initiated punitive measures, including the partial demolition of properties linked to the accused.

Political parties across the spectrum voiced strong condemnation over the law-and-effect implications of the murder, targeting the state administration over the safety of citizens opposing the illegal drug trade. Family members of the deceased and various local committees have raised formal demands regarding accountability and administrative oversight.

Police forces remain deployed across sensitive areas of Mansa to maintain public order as investigations continue. Authorities indicated that further legal proceedings, including formal custody transfers and interrogation regarding the weapon license and local drug networks, will follow as the case proceeds toward judicial review.