Parvinder Jhota murder: Family refuses post-mortem till demands met as protest enters Day 10, CBI takes over probe

Mansa(The Uttam Hindu): Family of slain anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota refuses post-mortem till demands met, protest enters Day 10

The family of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota alias Parvinder Singh Jhota (45) has announced that it will not allow the post-mortem to be conducted until its demands are met.

Jhota was shot dead on October 13 inside a chemist shop in Mansa's busy market while he was live-streaming on Facebook after confronting owner Ashwani Kumar over alleged sale of banned psychotropic drugs to an elderly man. Four associates were also injured in the firing.

His body is still kept at Mansa Civil Hospital as the family continues sit-in protest and has refused last rites.

Family's key demands:

1. Resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav

2. Post-mortem by a panel of senior doctors from PGIMER, Chandigarh

3. CBI probe into the murder and alleged nexus between drug smugglers, police and political leaders

4. Statue of Jhota at the shop where he was killed, dismissal of Mansa's two SHOs, DSP and Drug Inspector, and a trauma centre in Jhota's name at Khiala Kalan village

5. Fast-track court trial, exemplary punishment to accused, Rs 20 lakh compensation and free treatment to 4 injured persons at a reputed hospital.

The family was questioned for about an hour

The CBI team investigating the case questioned Jhotha's father, Bhim Singh, mother, Amarjit Kaur, and wife, Manpreet Kaur, for about an hour at a rest house in Mansa. This was the family's second meeting with CBI officials. The investigation team also searched the homes of accused Ashwini Kumar and Vipin Kumar.

Medical store inspection, shopkeepers questioned

The CBI also inspected Mansa Medical Hall on Shamshanghat Road. According to reports, a drug inspector suspended by the Punjab government was also brought along with the team during the operation. In addition to inspecting the medical store, officials also questioned nearby shopkeepers. The investigation is aimed at gathering facts and potential evidence related to the case.

All four accused are in judicial custody till November 5

The four accused arrested in the case, Ashwini Kumar, Neelam Rani, Vipan Kumar, and Ladi Kumar, were presented in court via video conferencing. Following the hearing, all four were remanded to judicial custody until November 5. The investigation into the case is ongoing, while Jhotha's family has maintained their decision not to perform the last rites until their demands are met.