Chandigarh: A prominent anti-drug campaigner renowned for exposing illicit pharmaceutical sales at local dispensaries was killed on Tuesday after being shot by a medical shop proprietor in Punjab's Mansa district, according to law enforcement authorities.

The activist, identified as Parvinder Singh, commonly known as Jhota, was confronting the pharmacist regarding the unlawful dispensing of controlled substances to an individual whilst recording the exchange on his mobile phone when the shooting occurred.

Footage captured on the device recorded Jhota stating that the store owner had drawn a firearm. The suspect subsequently opened fire at the campaigner, with the attack documented on the recording.

Jhota was rushed to a medical facility for emergency treatment, where he succumbed to his wounds, police confirmed.

The deceased activist had previously gained recognition for uncovering illegal trafficking networks operating through various chemist outlets across Mansa.
PTI