Outrage in Punjab over the murder of Parvinder Singh ‘Jhota’; markets shut, roads blocked, and protests erupt across several cities.

Outrage in Punjab over the murder of Parvinder Singh ‘Jhota’; markets shut, roads blocked, and protests erupt across several cities.

A ‘Punjab Bandh’ (shutdown) was called on October 15 to protest the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh ‘Jhota’. The impact of the shutdown—observed from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM—was felt across several areas, including Mansa, Patiala, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Mohali, Barnala, Moga, Tarn Taran, and Ludhiana. Markets remained closed in many cities, farmer organizations staged protests, and in some locations, demonstrators were taken into custody following road blockades. Reports also emerged that the Ladowal toll plaza in Ludhiana was made toll-free by protesters. Parvinder Singh ‘Jhota’ was shot dead in Mansa on October 13. The police have arrested the accused, a medical store owner named Ashwini Kumar, from Rajasthan. Meanwhile, ‘Jhota’s’ family is demanding a CBI investigation into the murder.