Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said the government has accepted all genuine demands raised by the family of slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, adding that the decision on his cremation now rests with the family and the action committee.
However, the deadlock over Jhota’s post-mortem and cremation continued, as his father, Bhim Singh, demanded the transfer of Mansa SSP Vaibhav Chaudhary.
The demand came after the third round of talks between the family, the action committee and the Punjab government ended without a resolution.
Bhim Singh said he and Jhota’s wife, Manpreet Kaur, would not attend further meetings with the government panel if the SSP was present. In a video released on Saturday, he alleged that the family was being treated disrespectfully during meetings and questioned the police response to his son’s murder.
He also demanded copies of the suspension orders of officials facing action and called for a detailed inquiry into their role. The family reiterated its demand for the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav.
Bhim Singh further alleged that his son was murdered because the ruling government feared his potential impact on the upcoming elections. This allegation has not been independently established.
During Friday’s meeting, the government panel handed over a written response accepting several demands raised by the family.
These included a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder, which has already begun, and a post-mortem examination by a panel of senior doctors from PGIMER, Chandigarh.
The government also agreed to provide security to the family, install a statue of Jhota in Mansa and take action against medical stores found violating prescribed rules.
CM Mann said the government had accepted all genuine demands and left the decision on the cremation to the family and the action committee.
Despite the government’s response, the family’s demand for the SSP’s transfer and its call for further action remained unresolved as of Saturday, keeping the post-mortem and cremation on hold.