Was Ishmeet Singh murdered in Maldives?

Was Ishmeet Singh murdered in Maldives?

India is a big country with lots of different ethnic and religious groups. Small issues can take a turn for the worse and rift between these groups grow even further, with violent clashes never too far from your doorstep.

The unfortunate and tragic death of Ishmeet Singh, the much loved Indian pop idol who won last year’s inaugural Amul Star Voice of India, has hit the Sikh and Punjab communities real hard. Conspiracy theories have already begun to emerge with the family members of Ishmeet already officially stating that they suspect foul play behind his death, reports some media groups in India.

Ishmeet’s family have requested a high level probe into his death just hours before it was announced that the pop idol will be given a full state funeral, an honour awarded to most distinguished people in the country. The request came as a result of observations by Ishmeet’s uncle Mr. Charan Kamal Singh, who claimed that injury marks were found on his forehead and chest. He also said that Ishmeet’s face had swollen, all of which mounted to a possibility that Ishmeet could have been murdered.

The initial reports from Male’ were also conflicting. Although most reports said that he had been murdered, an eyewitness in ADK hospital where he was initially taken and where he was officially pronounced dead, did state that he also saw some injuries to his forehead and suspected that he may have died as a result of impacting with the hard bottom of the shallow side of the swimming pool.

Ishmeet’s family have already requested a full probe into the incident from Prime Minister Mahmohan Singh and Punjab’s Chief Minister Mr. Prakash Singh badal to order a full inquiry.

Ishmeet’s uncle told the media that there could be three reasons for suspecting foul play in this incident. He said they were, jealousy of fellow -contestants, conspiracy of professional singers or murder by some militant outfit.

Ishmeet was laid to rest in his home town in a state funeral attended by thousands on Thursday. Ishmeet’s father Gurprinder Singh Sodhi lit the pyre of his only son as wreaths were laid on the body on behalf of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
The state state government also announced it will set up an Institute of Excellence for Performing Arts named after Ishmeet as a remembrance and as recognition of his unique talent.

The Chief Minister’s office have also now confirmed that they will be launching a full inquiry into the incident in order to honour the wishes of the family, despite the fact that the post-mortem results were conclusive that he had died of asphyxia and that it was a clear case of drowning.