Lakha Sidhana, Mohanjit Singh Sheron released from Nabha jail

PTC Web Desk: Lakha Sidhana and Mohanjit Singh Sheron were released from Nabha jail around 6 pm on Thursday. Hundreds of young people had gathered outside to welcome them, honouring them with siropas and showering flower petals.

Speaking to the media, Sidhana and Sheon said they had no information about what had happened between the morcha, the family of Parvinder Singh Jhota and the government while they were in custody. They said they would go straight to the protest site from the jail.

Their release followed a meeting between the government and representatives of the morcha. Earlier, a court in Mansa had ordered their immediate release and directed the superintendent of the New Nabha jail to carry it out.

Also Read | Daljit Singh cremated at native village in Mansa after High Court order amid row over Punjab’s drug menace

Why they were arrested

Sidhana and Sheron were arrested by the Mansa police after the dispute over the body of Daljit Singh in Mansa. The police had registered a case against them under several serious sections, including attempt to murder. They were first held in police remand and later sent to judicial custody.

Talks between government and the morcha

Representatives of the Punjab government and the Insaf morcha held talks that lasted about five hours. Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian and senior officials took part. The release of Sidhana and other arrested leaders was a key demand during the meeting.

What the government agreed to

Under the understanding reached, the government promised the following:

Rs 2 crore as compensation to the family of Parvinder Singh Jhota

A government job for one member of his family

A trauma centre in Jhota’s name at Khiala Kalan

A high-level inquiry into the case

The insaf morcha had decided not to allow a post-mortem on Jhota’s body until the arrested leaders were released.

Meanwhile, the body of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota is being sent for a post-mortem today, 23 days after his death. For the family and supporters who have been sitting on a protest demanding justice, it is the first sign of movement in the case.

According to the report, officials said to be from the CBI reached the spot. A van with a freezer facility and an ambulance were called and the body was taken to PGI, Chandigarh.

Before the body was moved, the family were allowed to see him one last time. 

The Insaf morcha had earlier refused to allow a post-mortem until the arrested leaders were released. Lakha Sidhana and Mohanjit Singh Sheron were freed from Nabha jail on Thursday after talks between the government and the morcha.