MANSA: On the 23rd day following the tragic murder of prominent anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, his family has formally agreed to allow a post-mortem examination. The breakthrough came after a high-level meeting on Wednesday, November 4, between the Jhota family, the Action Committee, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian.
The post-mortem is scheduled to be conducted at PGI Chandigarh on November 6. The date for the final rites and cremation has not yet been finalized.
Government Concessions and Agreements
During the Wednesday meeting, the government and the Action Committee reached a consensus on all major demands, with the exception of the immediate resignations of the Chief Minister and the DGP. The agreed-upon terms include:
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Financial Assistance: The Punjab government will provide a compensation of ₹2 crore to the bereaved family.
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Employment: Jhota’s wife will be offered a government job based on her educational qualifications.
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Case Cancellations: All police cases registered against Jhota’s father and the members of the Anti-Drug Task Team will be officially revoked.
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Memorials: A statue honoring Parvinder Singh Jhota will be erected in Mansa, and a new trauma center in his native village of Khyala will be named after him.
Action Against Vandalism
Parallel to the murder investigation, Mansa Police have registered an FIR against 1,200 unidentified youths for vandalizing the chemist shop owned by the prime accused, Ashwani Kumar.
On Wednesday, police and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) teams arrived at the site with JCB machines to clear the debris of the demolished shop and gather crucial forensic evidence. Mansa Police also filed a status report in the High Court on Tuesday, clarifying that the FIR against the mob for the October 14 vandalism was officially registered on October 15.
Timeline of the Jhota Murder Case
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October 13, 2026: Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota is shot dead inside the medical store of Ashwani Kumar in Mansa while confronting the owner about the alleged illegal sale of restricted pharmaceutical drugs. Four others are injured in the crossfire.
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October 14, 2026: An angry mob vandalizes and sets fire to Ashwani Kumar’s medical store. Local administration later demolishes the front portion of Ashwani's residence. A murder case is registered at Mansa City-2 Police Station, and Ashwani Kumar is arrested from Salasar, Rajasthan. His wife Neelam Rani, along with Vipin Garg and Laddi, are named as co-accused.
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October 20, 2026: The Punjab Government officially transfers the murder probe to the CBI. Union Home Minister Amit Shah meets with Jhota’s grieving family.
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October 21, 2026: A CBI team, led by a DIG-rank officer, arrives in Mansa at midnight and takes custody of all case files from the local police. The Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) team from Chandigarh inspects the crime scene, collects samples, seizes DVRs, and questions neighboring shopkeepers.
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October 22, 2026: The CBI registers a fresh FIR encompassing charges of murder, attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, and violations under the Arms Act, formally taking over the investigation.
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October 22–23, 2026: CBI officials record official statements from Jhota’s father (Bhim Singh), wife (Manpreet Kaur), and mother (Amarjit Kaur). Searches are conducted at the residences of Ashwani Kumar and his relative Vipin.
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October 24–25, 2026: Expanding the scope of the probe into illegal drug peddling, the CBI inspects three other medical stores in Mansa to investigate the broader pharmaceutical drug supply chain.
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