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Mansa: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case into the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Punjab’s Mansa district and taken over the investigation. A CBI team visited Mansa on Wednesday, a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Punjab. Shah had visited Jhota’s family on Tuesday and assured them of a detailed investigation, saying a CBI team would arrive soon.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had announced the CBI probe on Tuesday accepting the family’s demand for an independent investigation. Mann said the decision was taken in response to the family’s request and that the government stood firmly with Jhota’s father, Bhim Singh, and other family members.

Jhota was shot dead on October 13 during a confrontation with chemist Ashwani Kumar over the sale of intoxicating medicines. The incident was livestreamed on Facebook, triggering widespread outrage.

The main accused was arrested in Rajasthan along with a pistol allegedly used in the shooting. Another person was also arrested for allegedly helping him flee.

The killing triggered protests in Mansa and a statewide bandh, with markets shut in several areas and farmer organisations blocking highways.

Jhota’s father alleged a conspiracy behind the killing.

Opposition parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the BJP and the Congress, demanded an independent investigation and criticised the state government’s handling of the drug problem. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and BJP leaders also called for Mann’s resignation.

Following the incident, Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Chaudhary suspended City-2 police station house officer Beant Kaur over alleged negligence and recommended an inquiry against Deputy Superintendent of Police Harjinder Singh Gill.