Chandigarh, Oct 19: Prominent Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh declared anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota a martyr, demanding immediate justice for the grieving family following his assassination in Punjab’s Mansa district. Authorities reported that Jhota, renowned for campaigning against the illicit sale of addictive substances at medical stores, was fatally shot in broad daylight inside a pharmacy while broadcasting live on social media.
Police stated that the store owner, identified as Ashwani Kumar, opened fire after the activist confronted him regarding the distribution of illegal drugs to an elderly resident. The primary accused was subsequently apprehended by law enforcement in Rajasthan’s Salasar. Meanwhile, the victim’s family and supporters have maintained a continuous protest site in Mansa, refusing to conduct final funeral rites for nearly a week until authorities meet their demands for accountability.
The tragedy has prompted widespread solidarity across the Punjabi film and music community. Actress Neeru Bajwa announced that she is putting the release of her upcoming film ‘Thaapi’ on hold in response to the public outrage, while artist Babbu Mann visited the demonstration site to support the family. Industry figures asserted that the collective response reflects deep community anguish over the incident.
