The Punjab government has taken steps to initiate formal talks with the action committee leading the protest in Mansa over the death of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota. Three women IAS officers have been assigned to establish contact with the committee, with an initial round of discussions likely to take place on Monday.
 

The government has informally constituted a three-member panel to engage with the action committee, which has been demanding justice for Jhota. The move comes after nearly a week of protests and efforts to resolve the matter through dialogue.
 

The panel comprises Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar, a 2007-batch IAS officer; Apneet Riyait, a 2011-batch IAS officer; and Mansa Deputy Commissioner Navjot Kaur.
 

Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar currently serves as Commissioner of the Faridkot Division. Apneet Riyait previously served as Deputy Commissioner of Mansa during the Congress government. Her in-laws also belong to Datewas village in Mansa district.
 

Brar and Riyait arrived in Mansa on Sunday night. Preliminary discussions between the Punjab government and the action committee may take place on Monday evening.
 

Earlier, local police officials had been trying to facilitate talks. However, the action committee declined to hold discussions with police officers. The state government has now stepped forward to pursue dialogue through senior administrative officers.
 

The action committee has been demanding the resignations of the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police (DGP). It has also announced that Parvinder Jhota’s body will neither undergo a post-mortem examination nor be cremated until justice is delivered.
 

According to the report, Jhota was killed on October 13 by Ashwani Kumar at his medical store. Since then, an action committee comprising public organisations has been leading a protest in Mansa, demanding justice in the case.
 

On Monday, the action committee is also scheduled to hand over letters condemning the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs and ministers, following its call for the initiative.
 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also expected to visit Jhota’s family on Tuesday, on the occasion of Dussehra, to express his condolences.
 

The proposed talks between the government’s panel and the action committee could mark a step towards resolving the ongoing standoff in Mansa.