Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh has reacted to the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, calling him a martyr and demanding justice for his family.
On Sunday, Dosanjh shared a photograph of Jhotta on his Instagram account and paid tribute to the activist. “Martyr Parvinder Singh. In this hour of grief, the entire Punjab stands with his family. The family deserves justice,” he wrote.
Jhota was known for raising his voice against the alleged illegal sale of intoxicating substances at chemist shops. On October 13, he was shot dead in broad daylight inside a medical store in a busy market in Mansa.
According to the available information, medical store owner Ashwani Kumar allegedly opened fire on Jhota after the activist questioned him over the sale of intoxicating medicines to an elderly man.
Police subsequently arrested the accused from Salasar in Rajasthan. The incident took place while Jhota was broadcasting live on Facebook.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has initiated fresh efforts to hold talks with the action committee formed in connection with Jhota’s killing. The government has constituted a team of three women IAS officers to engage with the committee.
The team includes Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar, Apneet Riyait and Mansa Deputy Commissioner Navjot Kaur. Brar is the Commissioner of the Faridkot Division, while Riyait has previously served as the Deputy Commissioner of Mansa.
Earlier, the government had attempted to initiate discussions through police officers, but the action committee refused to engage with them.
The latest move comes amid continued protests and demands for justice in the case. Jhota’s body has remained at a hospital in Mansa for seven days, and his post-mortem examination and last rites have yet to take place.
The action committee is seeking justice for the slain activist, while the government’s latest initiative is aimed at reopening dialogue and addressing the demands raised following his killing.
