Parvinder Jhota killing: Akal Takht Jathedar honours slain anti-drug activist as martyr, questions whether SHO suspension is enough
PTC Web Desk: Three days after the killing of Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, his family and the protest committee, Insaf Morcha, formed after his death have refused to cremate his body for now. They have also declined to allow a post-mortem.
The committee has said the body will not be handed over for last rites until Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav resign. It has also demanded a firm assurance that the case will be investigated by the CBI.
Also Read | Parvinder Jhota killing: Who was accused Ashwani on call with before shooting dead anti-drug activist ?
Also Read | Parvinder Jhota murder: Mansa City-2 SHO Beant Kaur suspended, DIG issues apology over personal enmity remarks
Mansa market reopens
The committee appealed to traders in Mansa to reopen their shops after the town stayed shut for three days. The market opened on Friday, though the usual rush was missing and the town looked quieter than normal.
Jathedar calls Jhota a martyr
Jhota was shot dead by Ashwani Kumar, who owns a medical store. Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, has described him as a “national martyr.”
Jathedar Gargaj said Jhota had been fighting against drugs in Punjab and gave his life for the cause. He said Jhota died for the youth of Punjab and for every household.
Gargaj visited the protest site at Tikoni, near the Deputy Commissioner’s residence in Mansa. He questioned whether the suspension of the local SHO was enough action in the case and demanded decisive steps against drug trafficking.
“Bhai Parwinder Singh gave his life in the fight against drugs. He is a martyr. The government should listen carefully. Is suspending the SHO enough? This is not a political issue. It is a question of our existence,” he said.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal attacks Mann government
MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also visited the protest site and said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should step down. She held him responsible for the state’s poor law and order.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the government claims to run a campaign against drugs while people who speak out against drugs are being killed. She said the Punjab Government was directly responsible for this murder.
She also expressed sympathy with Jhota’s family and assured them of full support from the Shiromani Akali Dal. Jhota was an activist with the Anti-Drug Task Force.
“There is no law left in Punjab. The Mann government could neither stop drugs nor keep law and order,” she said.
She said Mohanjit from Sangrur was tortured after he raised his voice on drugs, and that Gulzar was threatened after questioning the drug trade and later died by suicide.
She also questioned how the accused shopkeeper got a weapon licence. She said an ordinary person can rarely get one, yet the Mansa Police issued a licence to a man who had been to jail and had five cases registered against him.
- PTC NEWS
