The killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota has drawn comparisons with the 2019 murder of senior drug inspector Neha Shoree, bringing renewed attention to the illegal sale and misuse of prescription medicines in Punjab.
As the state observes a bandh on Thursday to protest Jhota’s killing, concerns have resurfaced over the challenges faced by those working against drug abuse and the enforcement of laws regulating medicines that can be misused for their intoxicating effects.
Jhota was murdered in full public view on October 13, 2026, while broadcasting live on social media to highlight the alleged sale of prescription medicines to drug addicts. Shoree, meanwhile, was shot dead in her office in Kharar in 2019 by chemist Balwinder Singh.
Different circumstances, similar concerns
Shoree had cancelled the licence of the chemist’s shop before the attack. According to the police, the accused was aggrieved because his wife had also been denied a licence to operate a chemist shop following the cancellation of his own licence. He shot himself after killing Shoree in her office.
Shoree’s family had alleged that pharmaceutical opioid distributors against whom she had taken strict action were behind her murder. However, the police attributed the shooting to the accused chemist’s grievance over the cancellation of the licences.
Although the circumstances surrounding the two killings differ, both cases have renewed scrutiny of the enforcement of regulations governing prescription medicines and the risks faced by anti-drug activists and enforcement officials in Punjab.
Prescription drug misuse emerges as a concern
Punjab’s anti-drug campaigns have largely concentrated on narcotics, psychotropic substances and synthetic drugs. However, the misuse of prescription medicines has increasingly drawn attention.
Since 2023, the misuse of pregabalin capsules, popularly referred to as “ghode wale capsules” in parts of the Malwa region, has featured prominently in reports on substance abuse and enforcement action.
Pregabalin is a prescription medicine used to treat conditions including nerve pain. Its misuse by people seeking an intoxicating effect has prompted authorities to introduce restrictions and take enforcement measures.
In Mansa, the administration prohibited the sale of pregabalin capsules above 75 mg without a prescription in 2021. The issue returned to prominence in 2023 amid reports that some drug users were switching to these capsules.
‘Zombie drug’ claims denied by Punjab Police
Over the past few months, speculation about the use of a so-called “zombie drug” in Punjab has circulated following viral videos showing people appearing to be in a trance-like state. The Punjab Police, however, has denied the claims.
Jhota had been highlighting the alleged sale of intoxicating prescription medicines through chemist shops. He reportedly confronted sellers and documented incidents to draw attention to the issue.
His killing has once again brought the alleged illegal sale of prescription medicines into focus, raising questions about enforcement, accountability and the safety of those attempting to expose drug-related activities in the state.