The shop owner in Mansa’s S. B. Market opened fire on Parvinder Singh Jhota as he confronted him over drug sales, killing the activist during a Facebook Live session earlier this week. Jhota, known for exposing local drug syndicates, was subsequently arrested in Rajasthan’s Salasar on suspicion of drug trafficking.
Giani Kuldip Singh Gargar met the grieving family in Mansa, offering a tear‑filled ardas and stating, “Parvinder Singh is a martyr of the Sikh community.” He condemned a Punjab minister’s remark that the incident was a case of personal enmity, calling it “shameful” and accusing the state of attempting to undermine Jhota’s struggle.
The Jathedar also announced that the SGPC would bear the medical costs of all injured parties. SGPC president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami is expected to visit the area to oversee the arrangements.
Gargar warned against communal polarization, asserting that the incident was not a Hindu‑Sikh conflict but a collective fight against drugs. He praised the “Punjab bandh” that had shown unity across communities and urged the government to act against those who seek to divide.
The killing underscores the broader drug menace affecting Punjab’s youth, and Gargar’s statement signals a renewed push for coordinated law‑enforcement and community resilience.