Anti-drug campaigner Jhota shot dead in Mansa

Anti-drug campaigner Parwinder Singh Jhota was shot during a confrontation at a medical store in Mansa, Punjab, on Tuesday and later died, police said. Authorities are seeking the store operator, who is accused of firing. Police also said two other people were injured. Jhota was confronting the operator over alleged sales of intoxicating or prohibited drugs when an argument broke out. Reports say Jhota was recording the exchange on his phone, and footage circulated online appears to show the operator firing. The recording has not been independently verified, and the sequence leading to the shooting remains under investigation. Police confirmed Jhota was taken for treatment after being shot and died from his injuries. The accounts identify him as Parwinder Singh, commonly known as Jhota; some reports use variant spellings of his name. The shop operator is also identified with differing spellings in reports. Police have not provided an official identification record in the information available. Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Chaudhary said the accused would be arrested within 24 hours, according to one report.