Chandigarh: Punjab observed a statewide bandh on October 15 to protest the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Jhotta, with markets shut across several districts, private schools and colleges remaining closed in multiple cities, and farmer groups blocking national highways.
Private educational institutions in Ludhiana, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Bathinda, Mansa and Jalandhar remained closed. Although government schools were not officially declared shut, student attendance was reportedly low.
Farmers blocked highways connecting Ludhiana, Bathinda and Mohali with Chandigarh. Police also detained farmer leaders in Jalandhar, Bathinda and Faridkot amid protests over the killing.
Meanwhile, Mansa senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vaibhav Chaudhary suspended Mansa City-2 police station SHO Beant Kaur. The SSP’s office also recommended that the police headquarters investigate DSP Harjinder Singh Gill, with further action to be decided at the headquarters level.
Jhotta was shot dead in Mansa on October 13 after allegedly objecting to drug sales. Medical store owner Ashwini Kumar has been arrested in connection with the case. Jhotta’s father, Bhim Singh, has refused to accept his son’s body and is demanding a CBI investigation.
Bathinda Range DIG Harjeet Singh met Jhotta’s family to discuss arrangements for his last rites, but the meeting ended without an agreement. The family’s refusal to accept the body has added to pressure on the authorities to address their demand for a central agency probe.
