Punjab gangster threatens revenge for Parvinder Singh Jhota's murder

Jailed gangster Jassi Panchor threatened revenge after anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota's murder. The killing has sparked protests, a Punjab bandh call and political confrontation.

In Short

• Gangster Jassi Panchor vows revenge for anti-drug activist Jhota's murder
• Ashwani Kumar, accused shooter, arrested in Rajasthan
• Punjab bandh called by Jhota's father with political support

Gangster Jassi Panchor, who is lodged in Faridkot jail, has threatened to avenge the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Punjab's Mansa, claiming that an oath the two had taken in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib at Anandpur Sahib would be fulfilled.

In a social media post shared by the account jassi937, Panchor said he and Jhota had taken an oath to avenge each other's deaths if either of them was killed. He acknowledged that the two did not get along well but said their past understanding remained in force despite their differences.

"Whatever happened to the bull (Jhota) today was very bad. Mine and the bull did not get along well. But when we used to live together, we would go to Shri Anandpur Sahib and take an oath with each other in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib Ji," he wrote.

Explaining the oath, Panchor said they had agreed that if one of them died, the other would take revenge. He said the promise remained binding even after they stopped speaking to each other.

"In the presence of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, we took an oath that our bull would be avenged," he wrote, referring to Jhota.

Panchor issued a direct threat against Ashwani Kumar, the medical store owner accused of shooting Jhota. "No compromise on the oath I took. Bullets will be answered with bullets, and those who killed him will be shot in the head," he said in the post.

He also warned people who had spent time with Jhota in recent days, saying they would soon face consequences. He added that his priority was to avenge Jhota's death rather than gain publicity.

"I have no greed to become famous. The only thing is that the oath I took must be fulfilled," Panchor wrote.

He further said that he would fulfil his promise even if he were later killed in a police encounter. Addressing Ashwani Kumar, he wrote, "You had done bad work. Let whatever happens happen, I will fulfil my oath. I am alive, so if you shoot, you will definitely get a bullet."

MEDICAL STORE OWNER ARRESTED IN RAJASTHAN

The threat comes amid mounting tension in Mansa following Jhota's murder in broad daylight at a busy marketplace on Tuesday.

Ashwani Kumar, the medical store owner accused of killing the anti-drug activist, was arrested from Salasar in Rajasthan on Wednesday, police said. Jhota had confronted Kumar for selling addictive drugs to an elderly man when Kumar opened fire.

Bathinda Range DIG Harjit Singh said police had registered a first information report (FIR) against two people.

Jhota was known for raising his voice against drug abuse and the alleged illegal sale of addictive substances at chemist shops. His father, Bhim Singh, an ex-serviceman, said his only son was a boxer and cricket player who began fighting the drug menace after becoming distressed by deaths caused by substance abuse in Punjab.

In his complaint to the police, Bhim Singh alleged that his son's campaign against drugs had brought him into the crosshairs of drug smugglers in Mansa, as well as politicians and government officials involved in the trade. These allegations form part of the FIR.

According to the FIR, Bhim Singh was travelling from home to meet a retired subedar at the Mansa district court when he heard a gunshot after reaching a street near a sweet shop. Someone in the crowd then shouted that Jhota had been shot.

Bhim Singh said he looked ahead and saw his son lying soaked in blood outside Ashwani's medical store. He alleged that Ashwani, carrying a pistol, chased Jhota as he ran away and fired shots in front of him. He also alleged that Ashwani and his associates had conspired to murder his son.

Jhota was hosting a Facebook Live when the shooting took place. His father has also questioned whom Ashwani was speaking to on his mobile phone before the shooting. Asked about the last call, DIG Harjit Singh said the preliminary investigation indicated that Ashwani had been speaking to a family member.

MOBS TORCH STORE AS ANGER SPREADS

The arrest triggered further developments in Mansa, where anger over the killing spilled onto the streets. An excavator razed the front portion of Kumar's house in the Veer Nagar area, with police saying the action followed information about unauthorised construction on the premises.

People climbed the boundary walls of neighbouring houses to watch the demolition.

Authorities also initiated bulldozer action at Kumar's store, located around 700 metres from his house. However, mobs, including some Nihangs, vandalised the shop with swords, sticks and stones amid a heavy police presence.

A large crowd filmed as the structure was pulled apart. Protesters raised slogans against the accused, dragged furniture from the store onto the road and set it on fire.

The store was the location where Jhota was shot.

FATHER CALLS PUNJAB BANDH, FAMILY REFUSES CREMATION

Jhota's father has called a Punjab bandh on Thursday, October 15, from 6 am to 5 pm. Political parties, including the Congress, Akali Dal, BJP, Akali Dal Waris Punjab De, and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, along with other farmers' unions and state government employees' unions, have extended their support to the shutdown.

Emergency services will remain exempt from the bandh, Bhim Singh said while speaking to reporters in Mansa.

The family has also refused to cremate Jhota's body.

A joint action committee comprising several organisations and social activists was formed after the murder. It has demanded the resignations of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, along with the dismissal of the Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police, the DSP, the Station House Officer and the drug inspector concerned.

The committee has also demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder.

Bhim Singh has alleged that politicians, police personnel and drug department employees were also responsible for his son's death and called for their role to be investigated.

- Ends