Chandigarh (IANS): The cremation of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, who was shot dead by gangsters on Sunday, will take place in his native village Moosa in Punjab’s Mansa district on Tuesday, his family said.
After much delay to get the consent of his father, the postmortem of Moose Wala was conducted by a five-member forensic team of doctors from Patiala and Faridkot medical colleges at the Civil Hospital in Mansa.
Hundreds of Moose Wala’s fans and followers gathered outside his palatial bungalow to pay tributes.
Officials told IANS the singer-turned-politician’s wailing parents gave consent for the postmortem of their only child after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced to set up a judicial commission under a sitting judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court to probe his killing.
Moose Wala, whose real name was Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, 28, was shot dead while driving his vehicle in Mansa district on Sunday, a day after his security cover was cut by half. He was taken to hospital where he was declared dead.
Police have detained five persons from Dehradun on suspicion of involvement in Moosewala’s killing.
Also a phone call made by an inmate of Tihar Jail, Shahrukh, to Canada has been detected by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell during the probe into the killing.
Blaming the Chief Minister for the murder, a delegation led by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal met Governor Banwarilal Purohit here, urging him to dismiss the latter from his office.
It said a case should be registered against Mann for violating the oath of office by releasing confidential information about the withdrawal of the security cover of Moose Wala as well as other prominent personalities, including the Jathedar of Akal Takth and political leaders on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) portal.
“The Chief Minister does not deserve to stay in office for even one minute more,” Badal said, while demanding a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the killing of Moose Wala.
Facing criticism, Punjab’s Director General of Police V.K. Bhawra clarified his statement and said he has never affiliated slain singer Moose Wala with gangsters.
Chief Minister Mann had sought a clarification on a statement on Moose Wala made by the DGP a day earlier during his press conference here.
Clarifying his statement, the DGP said he has the highest respect for Moose Wala and that he was a celebrated artist and cultural icon of Punjab.
The DGP condemned the murder in strongest terms and said the investigation is going on and the perpetrators would be arrested soon to deliver justice.
Bhawra further stated that on no occasion had he ever said that Moose Wala was a gangster or affiliated with gangsters.
The DGP said a Canada-based person has claimed the responsibility for Moose Wala’s death in behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
The investigation would look into all aspects regarding the murder.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister announced the setting up of a judicial commission under the chairmanship of a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The Chief Minister, while acceding to the request of Balkar Singh Sidhu, the father of the slain singer, said the state government will be requesting the Chief Justice of the High Court to get the case enquired into by a sitting judge.
Mann said the state government will ensure full cooperation with this enquiry commission, including the help of any of the central agencies like National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Condemning the gruesome murder of Moose Wala, the Chief Minister unequivocally said the government will leave no stone unturned to put the perpetrators of this heinous crime behind the bars.
Mann said he has already issued directions to the police for a thorough investigation of the case in a prompt and result-oriented manner.
The Chief Minister categorically said all aspects of the reduction in security of the late singer are also under scrutiny and responsibility for any lapse will definitely be fixed.
Mann said he has deep regards for the late singer, adding that the state government was solidly with the aggrieved family in this hour of grief.
