By Asia Samachar | Opinion |
Parvinder Singh had fought his own battle with drug addiction before taking on what he saw as a far bigger enemy — Panjab’s flourishing trade in addictive substances. His journey from former addict to outspoken anti-drug campaigner won him admirers, enemies and, ultimately, cost him his life.
The 42-year-old activist, popularly known as Jhota (the bull), was shot dead on Oct 13 in a busy market in Mansa, Panjab, during a confrontation with a pharmacy owner. The chilling incident unfolded as Jhota livestreamed the encounter on Facebook.
The accused, Ashwani Kumar, was no stranger to Jhota. Their bitter confrontation dated back to 2023, when the activist and his supporters allegedly raided Kumar’s medical store over suspected illegal drug sales.
Jhota’s early life offered little indication of the path he would eventually take, according to The Indian Express.
The son of retired Army serviceman Bhim Singh, he grew up in a farming family and was an enthusiastic cricketer and boxer. But during his college years in Jalandhar, he fell into substance abuse.
Having overcome addiction, he channelled his experiences into a campaign against drug peddlers and chemists allegedly selling addictive pharmaceutical products without proper authorisation.
By 2023, Jhota had become a prominent face of grassroots anti-drug activism in Mansa and neighbouring districts.
His preferred weapon was social media. Armed with a smartphone, he confronted suspected offenders, often broadcasting the encounters live. His aggressive approach earned him a substantial following, particularly among young people frustrated by Panjab’s persistent drug problem.
But his methods were controversial.
Police accused him of vigilantism and taking the law into his own hands. In July 2023, Jhota and his supporters allegedly assaulted Kumar and paraded him through a market wearing a garland of footwear.
Jhota faced several criminal cases, although some were subsequently withdrawn or dismissed.
His campaign also attracted support from farmer organisations and Sikh religious figures, including Giani Harpreet Singh, then Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib.
The final confrontation with Kumar has now raised disturbing questions.
According to ThePrint, investigators examining call detail records found that Kumar had contacted family members shortly before the shooting. He reportedly tried calling his son three times before speaking to his wife, telling her that Jhota had returned to his shop and that he intended to shoot him.
The findings countered speculation that Kumar had been communicating with political contacts or other accomplices immediately before the killing.
Police subsequently arrested Kumar in Rajasthan.
Jhota’s death has triggered public outrage and renewed scrutiny of Punjab’s anti-drug efforts. His father has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe and blamed the Aam Aadmi Party government for failing to curb the drug menace.
Beyond the political controversy lies a grieving family.
Jhota leaves behind his parents, wife and two sons. Friends recall a devoted father who regularly took his children for sports training, hoping they would excel in athletics and avoid the destructive path he had once travelled.
His friend Inderjeet Singh Munashi told The Indian Express that Jhota had wanted his son to become a boxing champion.
For his supporters, Jhota died fighting the very menace he had once escaped. For others, his confrontational activism highlighted the dangers of citizens assuming the role of law enforcement.
His killing leaves Panjab facing an uncomfortable question: Why does the fight against drugs continue to produce victims rather than lasting solutions?
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