Punjab Forms 3-Woman IAS Panel to Meet Jhota’s Family; Talks Inconclusive as CBI Probe Demand Intensifies – Who Are the Officers?
In the wake of intense public outcry over the tragic killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, the Punjab Government constituted a high-level committee comprising three senior women Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers. The panel was appointed to engage with the grieving family and the action committee spearheading protests for justice.
However, the initial round of talks, held in Mansa on Monday, October 19, concluded without a breakthrough as the family and local action committee stood firm on their primary demands. Following mounting political pressure and a standoff over the deceased activist’s last rites, the Punjab Government officially referred the murder case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on October 20.
Background of the Crisis: The Killing of Parvinder Singh Jhota
Parvinder Singh Jhota, a prominent anti-drug activist based in Punjab’s Mansa district, was shot dead on October 13, triggering widespread political and social outrage. The primary accused, identified in reports as local medical store owner Ashwani Kumar, was subsequently arrested in Rajasthan.
Despite the arrest, the killing ignited severe protests. Jhota’s family and supporters alleged lapses in the handling of the case and refused to perform his last rites, demanding:
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A thorough independent investigation by the CBI.
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The resignation of the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police (DGP).
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Strict legal action against individuals allegedly spreading defamatory statements about the deceased and his family.
Amidst appeals from state ministers—including Aman Arora, who urged the family to perform the final rites with dignity and assured them of government cooperation—the political stalemate prompted the state administration to deploy a senior administrative panel.
1. Kanwal Preet Brar, IAS
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Batch & Background: A 2007-batch Punjab cadre officer who entered the IAS via promotion from the State Civil Service, holding postgraduate qualifications in Economics, including an M.Phil.
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Administrative Career: Over a distinguished career, Brar has managed critical municipal and urban portfolios. Her past assignments include serving as Commissioner of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, as well as holding senior responsibilities within Punjab’s tourism and cultural affairs departments.
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Role on the Panel: Serving as the Faridkot Divisional Commissioner, Brar brought senior regional administrative oversight to the negotiation table.
2. Apneet Kaur Riyait, IAS
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Batch & Background: A 2011-batch Punjab cadre officer recruited directly through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination.
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Administrative Career: Riyait has held significant administrative postings, including a prolonged tenure as Deputy Commissioner in Ludhiana, alongside roles in the state’s Personnel, Housing, and Urban Development departments. Notably, she served as the Deputy Commissioner of Mansa from July 2018 to February 2020, providing her with deep institutional familiarity with the district.
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Role on the Panel: Following the conclusion of Monday’s discussions, Riyait addressed the media, confirming that the panel had attentively documented the family’s concerns and would present them directly to state leadership for consideration.
3. Navjot Kaur, IAS
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Role & Responsibilities: Navjot Kaur serves as the current Deputy Commissioner of Mansa, acting as the senior civil and district administrator.
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Role on the Panel: Her inclusion ensured that the local district administration remained directly integrated into the channels of communication with the family, the local action committee, and law enforcement agencies—including Bathinda Range DIG Harjeet Singh and Mansa SSP Vaibhav Chaudhary, who also attended the deliberations.
Escalation and the CBI Referral
The talks at the Mansa Zila Parishad office—attended by Jhota’s father Bhim Singh, his widow Manpreet Kaur, and committee members like Munish Babby, Gurlabh Singh Mahal, and Manik Goyal—initially failed to produce an immediate agreement. Action committee representatives stressed that accepting secondary assurances would be inadequate without comprehensive accountability.
However, ahead of a high-profile political visit by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Mansa, the Punjab Government acted decisively on October 20 by referring the murder case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
While the CBI referral satisfies one of the core demands of the aggrieved family, discussions regarding other remaining political and administrative demands are expected to shape the ongoing administrative and political landscape in Punjab.
