Punjab government offers Rs 2 crore compensation for Jhota killing
The planned protest outside Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence was called off after ministers met with the Parvinder Singh Jhota Insaf Morcha.
The Punjab government has agreed to provide Rs 2 crore in compensation and a government job to the wife of anti-drug activist Parwinder Singh Jhota, according to Urban Acres. This decision follows a four-hour meeting between Punjab ministers and the Parvinder Singh Jhota Insaf Morcha, the panel leading protests over Jhota's death in Mansa on October 13.
The agreement includes the release of Lakha Sidhana and Mohanjit Singh Sheron, who were jailed in connection with the protests. Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian also stated that first information reports (FIRs) registered against protesters would be withdrawn.
The panel insisted that the release of the arrested men and the cancellation of cases against protesters must happen before the family consents to the postmortem and cremation. It was agreed that the police will approach the court to cancel the cases.
The panel also agreed to allow the postmortem of Jhota at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, provided its demands are met. While the protest at the Chief Minister's residence in Sangrur has been withdrawn, the panel said demonstrations in Mansa will continue.
Sandhwan described the loss to the family as irreparable. Jhota's father, Bhim Singh, expressed gratitude to Sandhwan and Khudian for meeting the family's requirements. Next steps include the proposed release of the two men and the police application to the court for the cancellation of cases.