NEW DELHI: Hours after the arrest of the prime accused, Asvini, involved in the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, the district administration on October 14 carried out a demolition drive at the residence of the accused amid heavy security deployment.
The development comes after Punjab Police, in a coordinated operation with Rajasthan Police, apprehended the accused shooter from a Dharamshala near the Salasar Balaji temple in Churu, Rajasthan, where he was reportedly hiding in disguise.
Explaining the presence of the police force, Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vaibhav Choudhary said the action was an administrative drive against unauthorised construction.
“We are here to maintain law and order. Action is being taken by the administration here. We had received an intimation regarding the same, so we came here with the force to maintain peace. There was input regarding illegal construction, and action is being taken in connection with that,” SSP Choudhary said.
The demolition was followed by an agitated crowd setting fire to the commercial shop belonging to Ashvini.
Defending the public retaliation, a Nihang Sikh openly warned that establishments associated with drug peddling across Punjab would meet the “same fate.”
Speaking to media, the Nihang Sikh mourned the killing of Jhota and warned that the public would take matters into their own hands against anyone associated with the narcotics trade.
“We will never get Parvinder Singh Jhota back now. His loss is an immense blow to us. But all these people standing here, every single one of them is a ‘Jhota’. And whoever acts like this—whoever sells drugs—this is the exact fate they will meet: they will be set on fire! There is no other remedy. This is the only solution: anyone selling drugs, whether a drug peddler, a shopkeeper, a medical store owner, or someone selling out of their home, in the days ahead, their places will be set ablaze just like this,” he stated.
The incident has ignited a political firestorm in the state, with opposition parties attacking the Bhagwant Mann-led government over the alleged failure of law and order and questioning the effectiveness of Punjab’s drive against drugs.
Citing a preliminary investigation, Punjab Police stated that the death of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was motivated by “personal enmity”.
Additionally, NHRC took cognisance of the anti-drug activist death incident, demanding an Action Taken Report from the concerned authorities regarding the investigation into the incident and action against those behind the incident.
In its letter, NHRC, based on the complaint, also requested the chief secretary to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of individuals working against drug abuse and to prevent such incidents in the future.
Jhota’s mother alleged that her son frequently expressed fear for his life, claiming that he had many enemies who wanted him killed, and demanded severe punishment for the drug mafia in the state.
She further claimed that the police did not even inform the family about the incident. Mother’s remarks came after the father of the anti-drug activist appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure the security of his grandchildren, alleging that the Punjab government failed to protect his son.
Vowing to continue the fight against drugs, Jhota’s father said that he would keep raising his voice against the drug menace for as long as he lived.
