Daijiworld Media Network - Mansa
Mansa, Nov 5: The Punjab government has agreed to provide Rs 2 crore compensation and a government job to the wife of slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, bringing an end to a 22-day-long agitation following his murder.
The agreement was reached after a five-hour meeting between Jhota's family, members of the joint action committee and government representatives in Mansa on Wednesday. Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian represented the government during the discussions.
As part of the settlement, the government also agreed to withdraw cases registered against protesters and facilitate the release of Lakha Sidhana and other activists lodged in jail. Following the agreement, the action committee suspended its proposed gherao of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence scheduled for November 5.
The government further agreed to provide Rs 50 lakh compensation and a government job to a family member of Daljit Singh of Bhamme Kalan, who died on October 27.
Following the breakthrough, Jhota's family agreed to allow his post-mortem examination and cremation. His body had remained in the mortuary of the Civil Hospital in Mansa since his killing on October 13. The post-mortem is expected to be conducted at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, following which the body will be handed over to the family for the last rites. The family has agreed to complete the process by November 6.
Joint action committee member Hardeep Singh Sidhu said the release of Lakha Sidhana and other detained leaders had remained a major point of contention during the negotiations, with discussions continuing for several hours before an understanding was reached.
Jhota was shot dead in broad daylight inside a medical store in a crowded marketplace in Mansa on October 13. According to reports, medical store owner Ashwani Kumar allegedly opened fire after Jhota questioned him over the sale of addictive drugs to an elderly man. The incident occurred while Jhota was hosting a Facebook Live session. Kumar was subsequently arrested in Salasar, Rajasthan.
The killing triggered widespread protests, with the family and several organisations demanding action against those responsible and accountability from the state government. The joint action committee, formed after the murder, had also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav.
The Punjab government had earlier transferred the investigation into the murder to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following a demand from Jhota's family. The government had also suspended a station house officer, a deputy superintendent of police and a drug inspector in connection with the case.
Agriculture Minister Khudian had visited Jhota's family on Tuesday evening to express condolences. He was the first AAP leader to meet the family following the activist's killing.
The settlement has paved the way for the completion of the post-mortem and last rites, while the CBI investigation into the murder continues.