ਝੋਟੇ ਨੇ ਫਿਰ ਘੇਰ ਲਏ ਮੈਡੀਕਲ ਵਾਲੇ, ਮੇਰੇ ‘ਤੇ ਪਾ ਦਿਓ ਪਰਚਾ ਮੈਂ ਹਾਰ ਪਾਕੇ ਹੀ ਜਾਉਂ”

The local Aam Adami Party (AAP) general secretary and Chairman of the Market Committee Mansa, Gurpreet Singh Bhuchar, finds himself in a bind as the Punjab police intensifies its investigation against ‘whistleblower’ Parminder Singh Jhota whom Bhuchar has been openly supporting.

Parminder Singh, who earned the nickname “Jhota” (The Bull) on social media, gained popularity in recent months for his self-styled campaign against alleged drug smugglers, particularly targeting medical store owners in Mansa and surrounding areas. He accused them of illegally selling drugs to the youth. However, Jhota is now facing allegations of taking the law into his own hands and extorting money under the guise of his campaign. As a recovering addict himself, Parminder Singh is under scrutiny from the Punjab police.

Parvinder and his six associates were booked under IPC Sections 355 (criminal assault with an intend to dishonour), 451 (house trespass), 148 (rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly).

Parvinder had been making videos and posting them on social media, accusing a section of chemists of supplying pharmaceutical drugs to addicts. He had also targeted the health department, especially the drug inspectors, who are expected to keep a check on the sale of pharmaceutical drugs which can be misused by drug addicts.

In a purported video on 12 July, Parvinder, along with his supporters, had caught an alleged drug peddler who was selling banned capsules. The man took them to a shop from where he was allegedly procuring the banned drug.

Parvinder and others found the banned drugs in the shop, following which they paraded the shop owner, Ashwini Kumar, in the market, the video shows.

According to the information shared by Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nanak Singh on Twitter, Parvinder, along with his supporters and friends, entered a chemist shop in Mansa and allegedly dragged the owner, Ashwini Kumar, out of the shop.

“Parvinder Singh then put a garland of shoes around Ashwani’s neck and paraded him in the market. They brought him to the city to the police station where they filed a formal complaint against him,” the SSP said.