MANSA: Supporters of anti-drug activist Parwinder Singh Jhota on Wednesday took over the demolition of a medical store owned by Ashwani Kumar, accused of killing the whistleblower, and set the shop on fire after throwing medicines out of the premises.The protesters, who had gathered amid heavy police deployment, raised slogans of “Bole So Nihal” as they entered the shop and began removing medicines. They later set the store ablaze, with police personnel present at the spot.One of the protesters held up strips of pregabalin capsules, claiming the drug was prohibited in Punjab. The activist showed the capsules to the gathering, which responded with applause, arguing that Jhota had been fighting against the sale of prohibited substances and had no personal enmity with the shop owner, contrary to claims by the authorities.

The action followed a demolition drive initiated by the district administration and police against properties belonging to Kumar. JCB machines were brought in to demolish his house on Gurdwara Road and the medical store near the railway tracks in Mansa.After a portion of the shop was demolished by the JCB, the protesters took over and continued pulling down the structure before setting it on fire.The protesters said they had taken matters into their own hands because the state government had failed to deliver justice.

They described the action as “people’s justice” and accused the government of failing to act against those allegedly involved in the drug trade.Taking a swipe at the state government's anti-drug campaign, they said it was not “Yudh Nashian Virudh” (war against drugs), but “Yudh Nasha Rokan Walian Virudh” (a war against those trying to stop drugs).

Bathinda DIG Harjit Singh said the demolition action had been carried out after completing the requisite formalities.