By Voices For Freedom

On October 13, 2026, the quiet streets of Mansa, Punjab, became the crime scene for an execution broadcast live to the world.

Parvinder Singh Jhota, a 45-year-old former boxer and prominent anti-drug activist, entered a local medical store armed with nothing more than a smartphone camera. He was accompanying an elderly man who had allegedly been sold illicit synthetic drugs at the shop. Moments later, as thousands watched via Facebook Live, arguments escalated, gunshots rang out in broad daylight, and Jhota was struck three times. He died of his injuries shortly after at the Mansa Civil Hospital.  

Jhota’s murder is not an isolated crime but a chilling testament to the state’s crumbling law-and-order infrastructure, the unchecked influence of illicit syndicates, and the deadly price paid by human rights defenders fighting to save Punjab’s youth.  

The Activist Who Refused to Stand Down

Where official enforcement faltered, Jhota stepped in. He documented illegal drug sales, exposed corrupt distribution networks, and rallied local village panchayats (councils) to formally resolve against drug usage. His approach was fearless, direct, and inherently public.  

Known across the region for his grassroots initiative — the “Nasha Roko, Rozgaar Do” (Stop Drugs, Provide Employment) campaign — Parvinder Jhota spent years directly confronting the networks fueling Punjab’s devastating drug epidemic.  

Yet, challenging entrenched interests came at a severe personal cost:

State Retaliation: Rather than treating his exposés as vital community intelligence, authorities repeatedly targeted Jhota. In July 2023, following a confrontation with the same medical store owner involved in his ultimate killing, Jhota was arrested and jailed for nearly two months.  

Systemic Neglect: While activists were subjected to police scrutiny, illicit dealers continued operating openly in suburban markets.  

The Demand for Justice

Following the killing, widespread protests erupted across Mansa. Local businesses closed in solidarity, and school operations were suspended amid civic outrage.  

Although police subsequently apprehended the primary suspect in Rajasthan, the broader issue remains unaddressed. Catching the gunman does not dismantle the broader ecosystem that allows armed illicit networks to operate unhindered.  

The killing of Parvinder Singh Jhota is an attack on the fundamental right to life, expression, and community defense. When citizens are forced to perform basic civic enforcement at the peril of their lives, the state has failed its primary duty of protection.

Voices For Freedom calls upon authorities to:

  • Conduct an independent, high-level judicial inquiry into the nexus between local enforcement, regulatory bodies, and illegal drug distribution networks.
  •  Establish robust protection frameworks for human rights defenders, anti-drug whistleblowers, and community activists.
  •  Hold accountable state officials whose past negligence or targeted harassment of activists created the conditions for this tragedy.

Parvinder Singh Jhota gave his life attempting to protect his community. His death must mark a turning point in the demand for government accountability, justice, and the protection of civil society in Punjab.