Akal Takht Jathedar Declares Parvinder Singh Jhota a Martyr, SGPC to Bear Medical Expenses of Injured

16 October Mansa. Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Friday accorded martyr status to anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, who was shot dead in Mansa, describing his sacrifice as a fight to protect Punjab’s youth from the drug menace. Giani Gargaj, accompanied by Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Tek Singh, visited Jhota’s family to offer condolences and express solidarity with their struggle for justice. The Jathedars also visited the protest site at Tikoni, near the Deputy Commissioner’s residence in Mansa, where demands for action against drug trafficking have been raised. Questioning whether the suspension of the local Station House Officer (SHO) was sufficient action, Giani Gargaj called for concrete measures to dismantle the drug trade. He emphasised that the issue went beyond politics and concerned the future and survival of Punjab’s younger generation. Jhota was shot dead while livestreaming on Facebook after confronting medical store owner Ashwani Kumar over the alleged sale of addictive substances to an elderly man. Kumar was subsequently arrested in Rajasthan’s Salasar. The Jathedar said the Punjab bandh observed on Wednesday reflected the collective determination of people from different communities to fight drugs. He alleged that young people raising their voices against the menace were increasingly becoming targets of violence. During his visit, Giani Gargaj embraced Jhota’s two sons and encouraged them to remain strong. He appealed to the Sikh community and people across Punjab to support the bereaved family and continue the campaign against drug trafficking. He also said that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) would bear the medical expenses of everyone injured in the incident. SGPC president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami is expected to visit the area to assess the situation and ensure that the necessary assistance is provided. Offering prayers for the family, the Jathedar sought strength for those pursuing justice and success for the anti-drug movement initiated by Jhota. Giani Gargaj said that while a person’s life could be taken, the ideas and principles for which they stood would continue to inspire others. He urged the government to address drug trafficking at its roots and take effective steps to prevent further loss of life.