Punjab: House of accused in anti drug activist Jhota's murder demolished; police deployed
Following the arrest of the prime accused in Parminder Singh Jhota's murder, authorities demolished the suspect's home in Mansa amid heavy security.
In a high-tension development in Mansa, the residence of the prime accused in the murder of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota was demolished by the district administration on Wednesday. The demolition drive took place under heavy security deployment, shortly after the arrest of the main suspect, Ashvini.
Police Arrest Shooter in Rajasthan Disguise
The investigation into the killing of Parminder Singh Jhota saw a major breakthrough when the Punjab Police, working in coordination with the Rajasthan Police, tracked down the shooter. Ashvini was apprehended at a dharamshala near the Salasar Balaji temple in Churu, Rajasthan. Reports suggest the accused had been attempting to evade capture by hiding in disguise.
Following the arrest, the Mansa administration moved to demolish the accused's property. Addressing the heavy police presence, Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vaibhav Choudhary stated that the action was an administrative drive targeting unauthorized construction. He noted that the police force was deployed primarily to maintain law and order and prevent any potential unrest during the process.
Public Unrest and Violent Retaliation
The demolition did not pass without incident. An agitated crowd gathered at the scene, and in a moment of public retaliation, a commercial shop belonging to Ashvini was set on fire. The atmosphere remained volatile as locals expressed their anger over the loss of the activist.
A Nihang Sikh, speaking at the site, issued a stern warning to those involved in the narcotics trade. Mourning the death of Jhota, he claimed that the community would no longer tolerate drug peddling. "Whoever acts like this—whoever sells drugs—this is the exact fate they will meet: they will be set on fire!" he declared, warning that shops, medical stores, or even homes used for drug sales would face similar destruction.
Calls for Political Change and Support for Amritpal Singh
The unrest also took a political turn, with calls for the youth to unite behind jailed 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh. The Nihang Sikh suggested that a change in leadership was the only way to eradicate the drug menace, claiming that the establishment of Khalsa Raj would shut down the drug trade without the need for further violence.
Allegations of Police Harassment
Amidst the chaos, serious allegations of police misconduct have surfaced. Manjit Kaur, a relative of Gurpreet Singh—an aide to Amritpal Singh—claimed she was forcibly detained by a large contingent of police officers at dawn. She alleged that approximately 15-16 personnel, including a female officer, arrived at her home at 5:30 am and took her to the station.
Kaur stated that her phone was snatched when she attempted to record the encounter. She claimed she was held for nearly three hours before being released with travel restrictions that prevented her from traveling to Mansa to pay her respects to the deceased activist. "The state government stands exposed today," she remarked following her release.
The case stems from the fatal shooting of Parminder Singh Jhota, a prominent anti-drug activist, by a medical shop owner, an act that has sent shockwaves through the region.