MANSA, October 18, 2026: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Punjab on October 20, with his visit coming at a time when the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota has triggered widespread protests and renewed debate over drugs and law and order in the state.
During the visit, Shah is expected to travel to Mansa and meet Jhota’s family, which has continued to demand a detailed investigation and accountability in the case. A final minute-by-minute programme for the Home Minister’s visit has not yet been publicly detailed.
Parvinder Singh Jhota was killed in Mansa on October 13. He had become known for publicly campaigning against drug abuse and raising allegations about the illegal sale of intoxicating medicines. His death led to demonstrations in several parts of Punjab and intensified demands for action against those allegedly involved.
The family and a joint action committee formed following the killing have demanded a CBI investigation into the case. They have also raised questions about the handling of complaints made before Jhota’s death and sought action against officials they believe failed to respond adequately.
As of the latest available information, the family had also maintained its protest over the last rites while pressing for its demands to be addressed. Police and the Punjab government have said the murder is being investigated and that those found responsible will face action.
The case has already led to administrative action. Mansa City-2 SHO Inspector Beant Kaur was suspended following the controversy surrounding the handling of the matter. Questions have also been raised regarding the role of other officials, though responsibility beyond the actions formally announced remains subject to inquiry.
The Centre has also sought information from the Punjab government over the Jhota case. The issue has since become part of a wider political exchange between the Union government and Punjab’s AAP government over drug trafficking, policing and responsibility for controlling the narcotics problem.
Shah has publicly questioned the situation surrounding drugs and recent killings in Punjab, while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has defended his government’s anti-drug campaign and argued that responsibility for narcotics entering Punjab also involves border security and central agencies.
Both sides have therefore presented sharply different assessments of the state’s drug problem. These political arguments remain separate from the criminal investigation into Jhota’s killing, where responsibility will have to be established through evidence and the legal process.
Shah’s October 20 trip will be his second Punjab visit within a month, after his September 30 programme in Jalandhar connected with the BJP’s anti-drug campaign.
Current indications also suggest that his Punjab programme may include meetings with families affected by other recent incidents connected with anti-drug activity, although the complete itinerary is still awaited.
For Jhota’s family and supporters, attention will remain focused on whether the Home Minister’s visit results in any further step regarding their demand for an independent investigation.
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