Mansa Standoff Ends: CBI to Probe Anti-Drug Activist Parvinder Singh Jhota's Murder
A 22-day standoff over the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota ends as the Punjab government agrees to CBI probe and compensation.
A tense 22-day standoff in Mansa, Punjab, sparked by the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, has finally come to a resolution. Following an agreement between the grieving family and the Punjab government, the body of the activist was moved from the Mansa Civil Hospital mortuary late Thursday night to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh.
Expert Board to Conduct Post-Mortem
The transfer of the body was carried out under heavy security and in the presence of a team from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). A board of expert doctors is scheduled to perform the post-mortem examination on Friday, November 6, ensuring a transparent medical review of the cause of death.
CBI Takes Over Investigation
In a major move to ensure an impartial inquiry, the investigation into the murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota has been officially handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This shift in jurisdiction was a key demand of the protesters and the family who had been seeking justice for the activist.
Compensation and Government Assurances
As part of the settlement reached between the state and the Insaaf Committee, the Punjab government has announced a comprehensive compensation and support package:
- Financial Aid: A compensation of Rs 2 crore will be provided to Jhota's family.
- Employment: Jhota's wife will be granted a government job based on her educational qualifications.
- Legal Relief: The state has agreed to cancel FIRs registered against protesters and withdraw cases filed against Jhota's father and members of the Anti-Drug Task Force.
- Release of Detainees: Arrested demonstrators, including Mohanjeet Singh Sheron and Lakha Sidhana, have been released.
Honoring the Fallen
To ensure the activist's legacy lives on, the government has pledged to construct a memorial for Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa. Furthermore, a trauma center will be established in Khiala village and named in his honor.
Justice for Other Victims
The resolution also addressed the loss of Daljit Singh, a youth who died during the course of the protest movement. The Punjab government has committed to providing his family with a compensation of Rs 50 lakh and a government job.
The Road to Resolution
The negotiations that ended the three-week deadlock were facilitated by high-ranking officials, including Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, who worked alongside the Insaaf Committee to reach a consensus.