Jhota, who was known for exposing the alleged illegal sale of drugs at medical stores, was broadcasting the confrontation live on Facebook when the incident took place.
Confrontation captured on Facebook Live
In the video, Jhota is seen standing alongside an elderly man claiming he had purchased drugs from the chemist shop, leading to a heated argument between the activist and the store owner.
Jhota asked the shopkeeper to produce CCTV footage, while the latter questioned the elderly man about whether he had purchased drugs from him. The activist responded, saying, “Yes, we have the recording.”
The shop owner, who was holding a gun, continued arguing with Jhota, who was heard asking his associates to call the police and bring more people to the spot.
The Facebook Live video lasted over five minutes before ending abruptly after the shop owner allegedly opened fire.
Jhota's mobile phone was seen falling to the ground as the recording came to an end.
The chemist shop owner was reportedly on the run following the incident.
BJP targets AAP government over law and order
The killing triggered a political confrontation, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) targeting the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over its handling of Punjab's drug problem.
BJP leader Sunil Jakhar criticised the state government's anti-drug campaign, questioning the steps taken to curb the alleged sale of addictive medicines through medical stores.
In a post on X, Jakhar said the killing of a young man who had raised his voice against drugs had exposed what he described as the shortcomings of the Bhagwant Mann government's campaign against narcotics.
Referring to remarks reportedly made by the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) about the rise in the use of medicinal drugs, Jakhar questioned how many seizures had been made and what measures had been taken to address the problem.
He also questioned whether drug inspectors were adequately discharging their responsibilities, before holding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accountable for the state's law and order situation.
ਮਾਨਸਾ ਵਿਚ ਨਸ਼ੇ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਅਵਾਜ਼ ਉਠਾਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਦੇ ਕਤਲ ਨੇ ਇਕ ਵਾਰ ਫਿਰ ਮਾਨ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੇ ਯੁੱਧ ਨਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਅਭਿਆਨ ਦਾ ਸੱਚ ਉਜਾਗਰ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਪਿੱਛਲੇ ਦਿਨੀ ਡੀਜੀਪੀ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਚ ਮੈਡੀਕਲ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਵੱਧ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਫਿਰ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਕਣ ਲਈ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੇ ਕੀ ਕਦਮ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ ਤੇ ਕਿੰਨਾਂ ਮੈਡੀਕਲ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਫੜਿਆਂ ਗਿਆ, ਲੋਕ ਇਹ ਜਾਨਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਕੀ ਮੈਡੀਕਲ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਰੋਕਣ ਦੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ ਡਰੱਗ ਇੰਸਪੈਕਟਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਨਹੀਂ, ਜਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਡਿਊਟੀ ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਤੋਂ ਆਏ ਧਾੜਵੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਉਗਰਾਹੀ ਕਰਨ ਤੱਕ ਹੀ ਸੀਮਤ ਰਹਿ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਭਗਵੰਤ ਮਾਨ ਜੀ, ਭਾਵੇਂ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਾਗਜੀ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਹੀ ਹੋ, ਪਰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਜਵਾਬਦੇਹੀ ਤਾਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਹੀ ਬਣਦੀ ਹੈ।
— Sunil Jakhar (@sunilkjakhar) October 13, 2026
Congress also attacks Bhagwant Mann government
Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also criticised the AAP government over the killing, alleging that it reflected failures in law and order and the state's anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nashean Virudh.
In a post on X, Warring said Jhota had stood up against Punjab's drug problem but alleged that his initiatives had not received support from the state government.
He described the killing as a serious failure of the AAP administration and expressed condolences to Jhota's family and supporters.
Warring also recalled meeting Jhota's father and family in 2023, when the activist had allegedly been falsely accused and arrested.
The daylight murder of Parminder Singh Jhota is a direct result of the failed law & order and failed 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' of the @BhagwantMann govt. Parminder stood up against Punjab’s drug menace but his initiatives were never supported by the @AAPPunjab govt. His broad daylight murder exposes Serious failures of the AAP Govt. My heart goes out to bereaved family and supporters. I had briefly met parminders father and his family when he was falsely accused and arrested in 2023. May Waheguru give strength to the family in these difficult times.
— Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) October 13, 2026