Ashwani Kumar, the medical shop owner who opened fire at Parvinder Singh Jhota, and his associate Vipin Kumar were taken into police remand for seven days and produced before a Mansa court via video link. After the shooting, Kumar abruptly turned off his phone, then fled with Laadi and Vipan, only to be captured in Salasar, Rajasthan. SSP Vaibhav Choudhary noted that Kumar made a single call to his uncle and four to his son before the act, and that the gun used has not yet been seized.
The investigation now focuses on a suspicious arms licence allegedly held by Kumar, which lists a 7.62 mm pistol and a .12 bore gun. Police are probing how he obtained the licence amid at least five existing FIRs, and whether his drug network supplied the weapon. The licence's authenticity is under scrutiny after a copy surfaced online.
Beant Kaur, the station house officer of City‑2 Police Station, was suspended immediately after the incident. Her suspension follows pressure from Jhota’s family, who refuse to allow the activist’s last rites until justice is served. The move signals the police’s attempt to restore public confidence after the high‑profile murder.
The killing sparked a political uproar across Punjab, with opposition parties demanding a CBI probe and the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav. While Mann vowed the strictest punishment, several political leaders cited a breakdown of law and order. A statewide bandh called by opposition groups further disrupted commerce and schools.
The court remains in remand over the next week, and investigators will continue to examine the weapon, licence, and alleged drug trafficking links. The next hearing is scheduled for early next week, and authorities will decide whether to pursue further charges under the Arms Act and the Indian Penal Code.