Breaking: Punjab Govt accepts key demands in Jhota case, appeals for postmortem: Apneet Riyat
Ashok Verma
Mansa (Punjab), October 23, 2026: The Punjab government has accepted the major demands raised by the Justice Committee in the Parvinder Singh Jhota case and appealed to his family and committee members to allow the postmortem to be conducted, Special Secretary Apneet Riyat said on Friday.
Riyat made the statement during a meeting with Jhota’s father, wife and members of the Action Committee. Divisional Commissioner Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar, DIG Harjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner Navjot Kaur and SSP Vaibhav Chaudhary were also present.
She said the government had taken several decisions following meetings held on October 19 and 21 between the civil and police administrations, Jhota’s family and committee members.
According to Riyat, the case has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has begun its probe. The government has also agreed to have senior doctors from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, conduct the postmortem, with the process being carried out in connection with the CBI investigation.
She said the government had decided to suspend the concerned Station House Officer (SHO), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Drug Inspector posted in Mansa.
The government has also agreed to install a memorial statue of Jhota on government land, in a park or at a stadium, at a location agreed upon by his family. The proposed trauma centre in Mansa district will be named after him, she added.
Riyat said a recommendation would be made for the speedy disposal of the murder case through a fast-track court.
Action against drug sales
Highlighting action against the illegal sale of drugs, Riyat said the Health Department had cancelled three chemist licences, suspended one licence and sealed four chemist shops in the district.
She also said the Union government had included pregabalin capsules in Schedule H1 of the Drugs Rules, 1945, following efforts by the Punjab government to regulate their sale. From November 12, 2026, the capsules will not be sold without a doctor’s prescription, she said.
The police are also taking steps to cancel the FIR registered in connection with the tearing of a turban, while a decision has already been taken to cancel anti-drug cases registered against Jhota’s father, according to the Special Secretary.
She added that police security had been provided to the family through the SSP’s office.
Compensation for injured
The Punjab government will bear the treatment expenses of four people injured in the incident and has decided to provide ₹5 lakh in compensation to each of them, Riyat said.
Appealing to the Justice Committee to accept the government’s assurances, she urged the family and committee members to permit the postmortem at the earliest so that the CBI investigation could proceed. She also called for the protest to be called off to maintain peace in the city.
The committee’s response to the government’s appeal was not immediately available.