An angry mob vandalised and demolished the chemist shop of Ashwani Kumar, the accused in the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, in Mansa on Wednesday. The mob later set the shop on fire, a day after Jhota was shot dead near the main railway crossing.
The incident took place amid protests over Jhota’s killing, which has triggered widespread anger in the town. Mansa is observing a shutdown for the second consecutive day as supporters demand action in the case.
According to details, the mob gathered near the railway crossing, where Jhota was shot on Tuesday. People attacked Ashwani’s shop with iron rods, sticks and swords before an earth-moving machine stationed nearby was used to demolish the structure. The shop was subsequently set on fire.
A large number of police personnel were deployed at the spot to prevent the situation from escalating and maintain law and order. Tension prevailed in the area during the action.
Sources said a nearby shop had reportedly been vacated ahead of the action.
Separately, the district administration demolished the front portion of Ashwani Kumar’s house in Veer Nagar on Wednesday.
Mansa SSP Vaibhav Chaudhary said police personnel had been deployed to maintain law and order. He stated that the civil administration was taking action concerning a house following a complaint about alleged illegal construction received in the past.
The demolition of the house was an administrative action linked to the complaint, according to the police officer’s statement.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer said the main accused, Ashwani Kumar, had been arrested in Rajasthan late Tuesday night. Police had been searching for him following the shooting.
Jhota was shot dead on Tuesday, and four other people were injured in the incident. The shooting was captured during a Facebook Live session by Jhota, which showed a confrontation between him and the chemist shop owner over the alleged sale of addictive medicines.
The police are investigating the murder. The circumstances leading to the shooting and the evidence gathered during the investigation will be important to establishing the sequence of events.