Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said his government would hand over the investigation into the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), news agency Press Trust of India reported.

Mann also expressed solidarity with Jhota’s family, which has been demanding a CBI investigation into his killing.

“We stand firmly with the father of Parvinder Singh Jhota and his family. Accepting the demand of the family, we are handing over this case to the CBI,” Mann said in a post in Punjabi on X.

He said the government’s fight against drug peddlers would be all-out. “We will not back down from whatever drastic steps we have to take to make Punjab drug-free,” he added.

Jhota, who was known for speaking out against the illegal sale of addictive substances at chemist shops, was shot inside a medical store at a busy market in Mansa on October 13.

Store owner Ashwani Kumar opened fire at Jhota after the activist questioned him about selling drugs to an elderly man. Kumar was later taken into custody from Salasar in Rajasthan.

The shooting took place while Jhota was hosting a Facebook Live and triggered a political row in Punjab, which is due to hold Assembly elections early next year.

Seven days after Jhota was shot dead, his post-mortem examination and cremation had not taken place as his family and supporters refused to allow the last rites until they received justice. They have been protesting in Mansa since the killing.

A joint action committee of various organisations and social activists, formed after the murder, has also demanded a CBI investigation.

The protesters have sought the resignations of Mann and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav. They have also demanded the dismissal of the Mansa senior superintendent of police, deputy superintendent of police, station house officer and drug inspector.

– Ends