The meeting in Mansa on Monday lasted about one hour and 50 minutes. It was the first meeting since the government committee was formed, and was attended by Jhota's father Bhim Singh, his wife and members of the action committee.

The three-member committee comprises Faridkot Divisional Commissioner Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar, a 2007-batch IAS officer, IAS officer Apneet Riyait (2011 batch), and Mansa Deputy Commissioner Navjot Kaur.

After the meeting, farmer leader Prabhjot Singh Mann told reporters that the action committee had submitted a memorandum of nine demands. He said the administration heard the demands but no agreement was reached on the key issues. The four major demands include a CBI investigation into the Jhota case, the resignations of the Chief Minister and the DGP, and the cancellation of cases linked to the Anti-Drug Task Force. The committee warned that the agitation will continue until its principal demands are met, and that it may approach the Governor.

Background: Parvinder Singh Jhota, known for raising his voice against the alleged illegal sale of intoxicating substances at chemist shops, was shot dead on October 13 inside a medical store in a busy Mansa market while he was broadcasting live on Facebook. Police say shop owner Ashwani Kumar allegedly opened fire after Jhota questioned the alleged sale of intoxicating medicines to an elderly man. The accused was arrested from Salasar in Rajasthan; according to reports, four accused have been arrested in the case in total.

Cabinet Ministers Harpal Singh Cheema and Aman Arora had appealed to the family not to let the last rites become a point of confrontation and to resolve the matter through dialogue. Cheema said the government had formed the committee of three IAS officers and was ready for talks.

On Sunday, singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh paid tribute to Jhota on Instagram, calling him a martyr and demanding justice for the family.

The standoff continues on the eve of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's scheduled Punjab visit on October 20. According to reports, Shah is expected to meet Jhota's family in Mansa.

Sources: Punjab Newsline; reports from Mansa; AAP Punjab statement.