Parvinder Singh Jhota’s body reaches PGI after 23 days, father begins hunger strike and refuses Rs 2 crore aid
After 23 days, Parvinder Singh Jhota’s body was sent to PGI Chandigarh for a postmortem. His father refused compensation and began a hunger strike
PTC Web Desk: Nearly 23 days after the death of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, his body was finally sent from the Civil Hospital in Mansa to PGI Chandigarh for a postmortem examination. An ambulance carried it out shortly before midnight on Thursday, once all sides had agreed on the move.
Soon after the body reached PGI, Jhota’s father, Bhim Singh, turned down any government compensation or job. He said the family wants neither money nor employment for any member and that their fight is against drugs and will go on. He also began a hunger strike and demanded the transfer of the Mansa SSP.
Visibly emotional, he said he would not eat a single grain from now on and would not mind losing his life in this fight. He added that he does not want the security the government has provided either. “Our son has left this world, what will we do with this security?” he asked.
Also Read | Lakha Sidhana, Mohanjit Singh Sheron released from Nabha jail
Why the body was held back
Earlier, the plan to send the body to Chandigarh had run into trouble. Even though preparations were complete, the body stayed at the Mansa Civil Hospital. Members of the Action Committee said it would not leave for the postmortem until the cases registered in this matter were cancelled. Slogans were raised at the protest site over the demand.
The family and the committee later reached an understanding. After ardas, the body was placed in the ambulance and sent off. Special CBI officers had also arrived to take charge of the body.
Lakha Sidhana and Mohanjit Singh Sheron released
Late on Wednesday night, Lakha Sidhana and Mohanjit Singh Sheron were freed from jail after a Mansa court issued release warrants. They came out of Nabha jail, while other youths held in the same case were released from Bathinda jail. All of them then went to the protest site outside the Mansa Civil Hospital.
Since Jhota’s death, people have been demanding justice for him and action against drugs. Attention now turns to the postmortem at PGI and its report.
The state government has reportedly agreed to pay the family Rs 2 crore, give a government job to Jhota’s wife and accept some other demands. This followed a Wednesday evening meeting between a government delegation, the family and Action Committee members, which settled the postmortem issue.