Parvinder Jhota killing LIVE UPDATES: NHRC takes cognisance of Jhota's murder, seeks report from Punjab DGP; bulldozer action likely on accused's home
The accused Ashwani Kumar's house was demolished in major bulldozer action on Tuesday, day after he shot dead anti-drug activist Parvinder Jhota following a violent confrontation over drugs sale in the town.
The National Commission for Minorities has taken serious note of the matter and sought a report from the Punjab DGP.
Following Parvinder Jhotta’s murder, the administration is preparing to take strict action amid growing anger among protesters in Mansa. Authorities are planning to demolish the house of the accused chemist, Ashwini Kumar, located in Gurdwara Wali Gali. A bulldozer is being arranged for the proposed action.
The move is reportedly linked to allegations that the house was built using money earned from the drug trade. However, no action will be taken against his shop for now.
Police investigations have revealed that the licence for the weapon allegedly used by chemist Ashwini Kumar to kill Parvinder Jhotta was issued just four months ago. Ashwini Kumar was facing four criminal cases, raising questions about how he received police clearance to obtain a weapon despite the pending cases. Punjab DGP (Law and Order) Praveen Kumar Sinha said the matter would be investigated.
In a major breakthrough, the main accused in the Parvinder Singh Jhota murder case, Ashwani Kumar, has been arrested from Rajasthan's Salasar. The killing of anti-drug campaigner Parminder Singh Jhota in broad daylight on Tuesday, streamed live on Facebook, has shaken Mansa and triggered a political storm in Punjab. Jhota, 45, was shot at a chemist’s shop on Tuesday morning while exposing the alleged sale of banned medicines. Read complete news here
PTC News Desk: Tension prevailed in Punjab's Mansa district as protest continued for second day over murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota. The markets, educational institutions in the district remained shut amid the protest demanding justice.
Meanwhile, former Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring reached the protest site at Tinkoni Chowk and met Jhota’s family.
Shooter arrested
Earlier in the day, the main accused in the Parvinder Singh Jhota murder case, Ashwani Kumar, was arrested in Rajasthan. The accused, Ashwani, was arrested along with the pistol allegedly used in the crime, the officer said. Two persons have been apprehended so far, including one who allegedly helped Ashwani flee after the shooting.
Jhota was shot dead on Tuesday following a violent confrontation with a chemist over drugs sale in the district. The killing has since triggered widespread outrage leading to citywise shutdown and bringing Mansa to a standstill.
Protesters alleged that police were detaining people at their homes, including some politicians who wanted to visit the protest site to express their support.
Activist Bhana Sidhu, who is leading a separate protest outside the Civil Hospital, where Jhota’s body is being kept pending a postmortem examination, alleged that police were also stopping people from bringing langar (community meals) for the protesters.
Sidhu appealed publicly to the police officers deployed at the hospital to allow people to bring langar and join the protests at both locations — outside the Civil Hospital and at Tinkoni Chowk on Sirsa Road, near the Deputy Commissioner’s residence.
Earlier, Jhota’s father, ex-serviceman Bhim Singh, alleged that his son’s murder was part of a conspiracy planned by the state government. He claimed that his son had been killed through deception. He also demanded compensation for the people who were injured along with Jhota in Tuesday’s incident.
- PTC NEWS
