Anti-Drug Activist Murder in Mansa Sparks Political Backlash

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema condemned the violence, asserting that no individual is permitted to bypass the legal system. Jhota, who gained local prominence for his vocal efforts against the drug trade in Mansa, was fatally wounded by a medical shop owner named Ashwani. Investigators claim the suspect utilized a licensed firearm to carry out the attack following a long-standing dispute.

Deputy Inspector General Harjeet Singh confirmed that one associate of the shooter has been arrested, with family members currently under interrogation. Despite the police framing the motive as personal enmity, the opposition has seized on the tragedy to challenge the Bhagwant Mann-led government. Former Congress president Raja Warring publicly labeled the murder a direct consequence of the state’s ineffective 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' campaign.

Amid the political fallout, the victim’s father has appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking protection for his remaining family. He claims the state government provided no security for his son and warned that his grandchildren now face imminent danger, yet he remains committed to continuing the anti-drug movement in his son's name.