A statewide ‘bandh’ call in Punjab on Thursday over the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa evoked a strong response with markets and educational institutions remaining shut and protesters blocking roads at several places, even as chief minister Bhagwant Mann asserted that no one will be spared for the crime.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to X to attack CM Mann over the incident, saying: “Raising a voice against drugs in Punjab has now become a death sentence. And this is happening under the rule of Bhagwant Mann’s AAP government.”

Ashwani Kumar, the store owner who opened fire on Jhota on Tuesday after he questioned him for selling addictive drugs to an elderly man, was taken into custody from Salasar in Rajasthan on Wednesday. His shop was set on fire by a mob while authorities razed a portion of his house.

Jhota’s family had given the ‘Punjab Bandh’ call from 6 am till 5 pm with support from the Congress, Akali Dal, BJP and Akali Dal Waris Punjab De, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and other farmer unions, and some state government employee bodies.

In response to the bandh call, shops and markets remained shut at several places, including Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Sangrur, Barnala, Moga, Patiala and Mansa. However, emergency services remained operational.

Several toll plazas, including in Ludhiana and Patiala, did not charge any fee from the commuters in support of the bandh call. Many private schools in Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Moga and Mansa declared a holiday in view of the shutdown. Protesters blocked several roads, including national highways, at multiple locations.

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Condemning the tragic incident in Mansa, the chief minister said: “It is unfortunate that opposition parties are playing politics over the dead bodies and using this tragedy to serve their vested interests. Our priority is to ensure strict action against everyone responsible and uphold the rule of law”.

Meanwhile, Mansa SSP Vaibhav Choudhary on Thursday issued the suspension order for SHO Beant Kaur amid demands for action against certain police officers, including Kaur, by Jhota’s family members, who continued to decline to perform his last rites till justice is delivered. Police said they have also arrested Ashwani’s wife, Neelam Rani, and his associate, Laadi.