CHANDIGARH / MANSA: The Punjab government will hand over the investigation into the October 13 killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Tuesday, responding to sustained protests by the victim's family and supporters, according to a Press Trust of India report.
Decision follows week-long protests in Mansa
The announcement comes after Jhota's family and a joint action committee of social organisations staged continuous demonstrations in Mansa, refusing to allow the activist's post-mortem and cremation for seven days until their demand for a central probe was accepted. The protesters have been calling for accountability not only for the shooter but also for local police officials and a drug inspector.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mann said the state stood with the family and accepted their demand to transfer the case to the CBI. He also vowed that his government would persist with vigorous action against those involved in the drug trade. The chief minister wrote:
"We stand firmly with the father of Parvinder Singh Jhota and his family. Accepting the demand of the family, we are handing over this case to the CBI."
What is known about the killing
Jhota, who had been vocal about the illegal sale of addictive substances at pharmacies, was shot dead inside a medical store in a busy market in Mansa on October 13 while hosting a Facebook Live. The store owner, identified as Ashwani Kumar, is reported to have opened fire after Jhota questioned him about selling drugs to an elderly customer. Kumar was subsequently taken into custody from Salasar in Rajasthan, the reports said.
The shooting has triggered widespread public anger across Punjab, with protests and a statewide bandh observed on October 15. Demonstrators have demanded a CBI inquiry and the removal of certain police officers they hold responsible for a perceived nexus between drug traffickers and elements within the administration.
- Victim: Parvinder Singh Jhota, anti-drug activist
- Accused: Ashwani Kumar, medical store owner (arrested in Salasar, Rajasthan)
- Location of incident: Medical store in Mansa market
- Action: State government to hand over probe to the CBI
Political and administrative repercussions
The case has become a focal point of political debate in Punjab ahead of Assembly elections next year. Protesters have demanded the resignations of Chief Minister Mann and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, as well as the dismissal of the Mansa senior superintendent of police, deputy superintendent of police, station house officer and the local drug inspector. The action committee formed after the killing has amplified those calls while insisting on a central investigation.
The timing of the announcement is notable: it precedes a planned visit by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Punjab, where he was expected to meet Jhota's family. State leaders have argued the transfer to the CBI is intended to assure the family and public that an impartial, thorough probe will follow.
Community reaction and next steps
Family members and supporters had delayed final rites as leverage to secure a CBI probe; it was only after the state agreed to the demand that tensions appeared to ease. The CBI will now take charge of the investigation, and the agency’s procedures will determine the next phase — from formal registration of the case to evidence collection and possible arrests beyond the alleged shooter.
Local residents and activists say the killing highlighted longstanding grievances about the availability of illicit drugs and alleged collusion by some traders and officials. Many in Mansa welcomed the decision as a step toward transparency, while others said they would watch closely to ensure the central probe is exhaustive.
| Aspect | Current status |
|---|---|
| Case transfer | Announced to be handed to CBI by CM Bhagwant Mann |
| Arrest | Accused Ashwani Kumar arrested in Salasar, Rajasthan |
| Public response | Protests, bandh, demands for resignations and accountability |
As the CBI assumes control, local stakeholders will be looking for a prompt, transparent investigation that addresses not only the killing itself but the broader concerns about the drug trade that Jhota had been campaigning against. The outcome will be closely watched in Mansa and across Punjab as political actors and civil society press for justice and systemic change.
Reporting for this dispatch relied on the Press Trust of India and other contemporaneous local accounts of the incident and the government's announcement.
