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Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala cremated in ancestral village amid huge crowd
A sea of mourners bid a tearful farewell to popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, who was cremated at his native village in Mansa district on Tuesday afternoon.
Famous Punjabi singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moose Wala, who was shot dead by unknown assailants in Mansa district on Sunday evening, was cremated at a farmland in his native village in the presence of a sea of mourners on Tuesday afternoon. The family has decided to perform the last rites at their ancestral agricultural land in Mansa district's Moosa village.
Moose Wala's family, including his parents, were inconsolable as they sat beside the body at their home. His mother was seen trying to console her husband as people from Punjab, Rajasthan and Chandigarh among other places queued up in large numbers to get a last glimpse of the singer.
His father was accompanied by Congress leaders, including Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Raja Warring. The body was brought to the ground on Moose Wala's favourite 5911 tractor.
Earlier, a large number of people gathered at the home of Shubhdeep Singh, known as Sidhu Moose Wala, 28, to pay him last respects. The young rapper was shot dead - not too far from his home. His death is being mourned in India and Canada where he had gone as a student.
Moose Wala's body was brought to his home amid heavy security arrangements. A huge crowd gathered outside his ancestral house as police closed the doors, and only family members and close friends were allowed to enter.
Notwithstanding the scorching heat, mourners joined the funeral procession as Moose Wala's father and mother stood on the tractor with folded hands, accompanying their son on his final journey.
Some of his fans wore t-shirts with Moose Wala's picture printed on them. The singer's father, Balkour Singh, even took off his turban on seeing the sea on mourners, news agency PTI reported.
People heaped praises on Moose Wala for his songs and even raised slogans in his favour.
Some villagers and fans expressed anger over the Punjab police pruning Moosewala's security cover just a day before he was shot dead and sought the strictest punishment for the killers.
The Congress leader’s murder has triggered a huge political row in the state amid calls for the dismissal of the Bhagwant Mann government. The death was reported just a day after his security was downgraded. Moose Wala was among the 424 people whose security was withdrawn or curtailed by the Punjab Police on Saturday on a temporary basis.
Also Read | Punjab CM orders probe into decision to reduce security of Moosewala
The Punjab chief minister on Monday ordered a review into the decision of scaling down his security amid wide criticism. The move was taken by the state government - against the “VIP culture” - affected hundreds.
On Monday, his family had refused to allow the post-mortem of the body after the Punjab police claimed it was a case of inter-gang rivalry.
Punjab DGP VK Bhawra, however, later clarified that he had the highest regard for the singer-politician. On no occasion, he added, he had called the 28-year-old a gangster.
“Claims and counterclaims by various persons claiming to be gangsters are coming on social media. One Goldy Brar has claimed responsibility on behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang,” he said.
A total of 25 entry and exit bullet wounds were found in the body of the popular singer, an autopsy report has revealed.
The famous Punjabi singer had fought the recent assembly election in Punjab on a Congress ticket from Mansa and was defeated by the AAP's Vijay Singla.
