New Delhi: Parvinder Singh Jhota, who raised his voice against drug addiction in Mansa, Punjab, was given a final farewell on Sunday. His body was cremated at the family farm 26 days after the murder. As soon as the body reached Mansa from PGI, Chandigarh, a large number of people gathered to pay tribute. People bid farewell to Jhota by showering flowers and raised slogans of 'Long live Parvinder Jhota'. First the body was taken to the protest site and then to his home. After this the last rites were performed in the field.
Jhota's father Bhim Singh has alleged collusion between political leaders and police officers behind his son's murder. He demanded an impartial investigation into the matter and immediate transfer of the SSP of Mansa. Bhim Singh alleges that drug smugglers conspired to murder his son with the alleged connivance of the Punjab government and the local police administration. He said that political people suspected to have a role in this case are still roaming freely. The father alleged that Aam Aadmi Party leaders were trying to save the local police officer. He says that unless a fair investigation is conducted and action is not taken against those involved in the conspiracy, the family will not get justice.
The family called Jhota a warrior of the society.
Family members described Jhota as a warrior fighting against drugs. He says that he lost his life for the future of the society and the youth of Punjab. The family hopes that their fight will inspire other youth and come forward in the campaign against drug addiction. Jhota's relative Jaspal told that he has been given the status of martyr by Sri Akal Takht Sahib. For this reason, flowers were showered on his mortal remains during his last farewell. Even on the occasion of Diwali, the family had appealed to the youth to stay away from drugs and support the campaign to make Punjab drug-free.
The murder took place in the medical store on October 13.
Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead inside a medical store in a busy market in Mansa on October 13. It was reported that he had clashed with the shop owner Ashwani Kumar over allegedly selling banned medicines to an elderly person. During this time he was also broadcasting the incident live on Facebook. Then a shot was fired at him. Four other people were also injured in the incident. The police had arrested four accused including Ashwani Kumar within 24 hours. After the murder, the family had refused to conduct post-mortem. Due to this, the body remained kept in the mortuary of Mansa Civil Hospital. The family had also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav. Now the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has re-registered the case and started its detailed investigation.