Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The demand for accountability in the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota has taken a fresh turn, with his father, Bhim Singh, announcing an indefinite hunger strike at PGIMER, Chandigarh, over the non-fulfilment of his demand for the transfer of Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vaibhav Chaudhary.
Bhim Singh said he would survive only on water until the police officer was transferred. Expressing his determination, he claimed that he was prepared to continue the fast even at the cost of his life if the demand remained unaddressed.
The development comes despite a meeting held on Wednesday between the family, members of the Action Committee and a state government delegation led by Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian in Mansa.
According to Bhim Singh, he had accepted the decisions reached during the discussions, but the issue of transferring the Mansa SSP remained unresolved. He also disclosed that his daughter-in-law had expressed reservations about accepting the government employment offered to her and had urged him not to take the compensation announced by the state government.
Jhota was shot dead on October 13 following a confrontation at a medical store in Mansa town over the alleged sale of addictive drugs. His killing triggered widespread protests, with the family and supporters demanding action from the authorities.
His body remained at the Mansa Civil Hospital mortuary for 24 days as the standoff between protesters and the state government continued. The deadlock over the post-mortem examination was eventually resolved after Wednesday’s meeting, and the body was transported to PGIMER late Thursday night for the examination.
As part of the government’s assurances, the family was offered compensation of Rs 2 crore and a government job for Jhota’s wife, along with acceptance of certain other demands.
Meanwhile, demonstrations over the activist’s killing continued for the 25th consecutive day on Friday. The protests persisted even after Lakhvir Singh Lakha Sidhana, Mohanjit Singh Sheron and nine other protesters were released from different jails on Thursday evening.
Bhim Singh’s decision to begin an indefinite fast has added another dimension to the ongoing agitation, with the transfer of the Mansa SSP remaining a key unresolved demand of the family.
