Parvinder Jhota murder probe transferred to CBI, Punjab govt bows to kin demand ahead of Shah's visit
PTC News Desk: In a significant development, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday announced that now Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will investigate the murder case of anti-drug activist activist Parvinder Singh Jhota.
“The family’s demand has been accepted, and we are handing over the case to the CBI,” Mann said in his post in Punjabi.
The decision was announced as the AAP government bowed to the anger of Parvinder Jhota's family and Insaf Morcha.
The development holds significant reverence as Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Punjab on October 20 and travel to Mansa to meet Jhota's family .
A CBI investigation was one of the main demands made by Parvinder Singh Jhota’s family and the Action Committee formed to seek justice for the slain anti-drug activist.
Parvinder Jhota shot dead in broad daylight
Jhota was shot dead at a chemist shop in Mansa on October 13. He had allegedly confronted the shopkeeper, Ashwani, over the sale of drugs. The incident was streamed live on Facebook. Four of Jhota’s associates were also injured in the shooting.
Jhota’s body is still at the Civil Hospital in Mansa because his family has not yet given consent for the post-mortem examination. His father, Bhim Singh, a former serviceman, had been demanding a CBI probe into the murder. The family and the Action Committee had also sought accountability from the state government and the police over the incident.
The announcement to hand over the case to the CBI comes amid growing public anger over Jhota’s killing. It also comes ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Mansa, Sangrur and Gurdaspur on Tuesday.
The murder has triggered protests across Punjab, with demonstrators demanding strict action against those responsible. They have also called for an end to the alleged links between drug traffickers, politicians and the police.
Punjab observed a bandh on October 15 in protest against the killing.
- PTC NEWS
