BATHINDA, Oct. 15 -- Parvinder Singh, alias Jhota, the anti-drug activist from Mansa, who was gunned down in broad daylight, was no stranger to controversies. Known for conducting aggressive, self-styled vigilantism against what he alleged to be illegal pharmaceutical drug sales, Jhota's methods repeatedly brought him into conflict with the police, who accused him of taking the law into his own hands. Jhota, 42, was facing at least seven cases, since 2009, officials said.

A boxer-turned-activist, Jhota had himself struggled with drug addiction before launching a campaign against chemists selling habit-forming drugs without prescriptions. Around five to six years ago, he formed an outfit called the 'Anti-Drug Task Force', which gained sup...