Parvinder Singh Jhota dead, anti-drug activism

Parvinder Singh Jhota, an anti-drug activist and kabaddi player from Mansa, was shot dead on October 13, 2026.

Born Parvinder Singh in 1983 or 1984, he was also known as Parminder Singh Jhota and was from Mansa, Punjab. His father, Bhim Singh, was a retired Army serviceman.

Before turning to activism, Jhota competed as a freestyle kabaddi player. He later took his anti-drug work into villages through the “Nasha Roko Rozgar Dio” campaign, a call to stop drug use and provide employment. His activism also brought him into repeated contact with police; he was arrested and released several times. The available account also records that he tested positive in a doping test once and that he was convicted of attempted murder. On October 13, Jhota was livestreaming on Facebook when he went to question a medical-store owner over alleged drug sales. He was shot during the encounter and sustained three bullet injuries: two to the abdomen and one to the thigh. He died in Mansa. The account of his death placed him at the scene while he was pursuing the issue that had become central to his public activity, while also noting the criminal and sporting controversies in his background.