Chandigarh: A man from Haryana’s Sirsa district has filed a public interest litigation in the Punjab and Haryana high court, seeking an HC-monitored CBI investigation into the murder of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota. The case is yet to be heard in court.Hukam Singh, a resident of Rania in Sirsa, has also sought an inquiry into the grant and renewal of the firearms licence of main accused Ashwani Kumar, even though he faced four criminal cases. He has also sought a probe into the and continuation of the drug licence of a medical store owned by accused Ashwani Kumar in Mansa, as well as the grant and renewal of his arms licence despite his alleged criminal antecedents .According to the petition, Jhota, a former freestyle kabaddi player who had formed an “anti-drug task force”, used to expose the alleged illegal sale of intoxicants at medical stores by recording videos and broadcasting them live on his Facebook page.The petition alleges that on Oct 13, Jhota noticed a person coming out of Kumar’s medical store on Bathinda Road in Mansa after purchasing intoxicating capsules. While recording a video and questioning Kumar, Jhota allegedly called the police, but they did not arrive. The petition alleges that Kumar opened fire, killing Jhota and injuring four of his companions.It further alleges that the police reached the spot after a delay of around 20–25 minutes and that Jhota was subsequently taken to Civil Hospital, Mansa, where he was declared brought dead.The plea also seeks adequate security for the deceased’s family and injured eyewitnesses, besides directions to restore public order and ensure free movement of the general public amid the unrest following the murder.
