Parvinder Jhota Murder Case: MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali Detained by Police While Heading to Mansa Protest

In the lead-up to a planned protest demonstration in Mansa over the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, the Punjab Police have initiated a sweeping crackdown on leaders and workers of the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab). MLA and senior party leader Manpreet Singh Ayali, who was heading toward Mansa to join the agitation, was intercepted by the Jagraon Police at a checkpoint near the Halwara Chowk. Following his opposition to the police action, authorities detained Mr. Ayali. The organization had scheduled a major protest in Mansa to demand swift justice for the late Parvinder Singh Jhota, who was killed recently. However, anticipating the agitation, police across the state began rounding up party members and placing numerous leaders under house arrest. Condemning the administrative actions, Mr. Ayali accused the state government of resorting to petty politics. In a statement, he asserted, "An inclusive protest was planned in Mansa to seek justice for Shaheed Bhai Parminder Singh (Jhota). Ahead of the demonstration, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration and the Punjab Police have arrested our workers and put several members under house arrest across the state. We want to make it clear that we are not intimidated by police-state tactics and will ensure justice is delivered to the late Parvinder Singh Jhota." Similar preventive actions were reported across other parts of the state. In Jalalabad, ‘Waris Punjab’ constituency in-charge Gurpreet Singh Ghaggan—who was planning to travel to Mansa with a large group of supporters—was placed under house arrest early in the morning. Similarly, in view of the statewide shutdown call issued for October 15 in protest of the activist's killing, Narinder Singh Khusropur, the organizational secretary for the Doaba zone, was detained early this morning inside his residence in Khusropur village.