Chandigarh boy cremated amidst heart-rending wails, moist eyes

CHANDIGARH - Five-year-old kidnap victim Khushpreet Singh, whose body was found on the city outskirts Wednesday, was cremated amidst heart-wrenching wails and moist eyes of family and relatives here Friday.

The cremation ground here in Sector 25 saw a heavy rush of people, who had come out in support of the grief-stricken family.

Kushpreet’s post-mortem was conducted at a government hospital in Sector 16, and his body was directly taken to the cremation ground from there.

In the wake of public unrest, heavy police force was deployed on the stretch between the hospital to the cremation ground to avoid any untoward incident. Besides, the cremation ground was virtually converted into a police cantonment. Senior police officers, including the senior superintendent of police, were present there.

After the cremation, Khushpreet’s family went to a gurdwara (Sikh shrine) to offer prayers.

Kushpreet’s father Lakhbir Singh urged the agitated people to maintain peace.

“I appeal to everyone to maintain law and order. We want strict action against the police officers who are responsible for my son’s death,” Lakhbir said.

Khushpreet’s autopsy was delayed by one day as Lakhbir had refused to allow anyone to take his son’s body Thursday until action was taken against the errant police officers.

However, he changed his mind after the Chandigarh administration named a magisterial inquiry to probe allegations of police laxity in the case. The inquiry officer has been directed to submit the report within 10 days.

Besides, Panjab University’s non-teaching employees’ federation has decided not to celebrate Lohri festival to show solidarity with the victim’s family.

Khushpreet was kidnapped from Burail village last month. His corpse was found dumped in neighbouring Mohali town Wednesday.

Following this, the village was Wednesday rocked by widespread violence which continued till Thursday. Several people, mainly youth, hurled stones and bricks at the police whom they blamed for inaction in handling the kidnapping case.

Chandigarh’s district magistrate Thursday evening issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the criminal procedure code.

The situation was tense at Burail Friday but no fresh incident of violence or disorder was reported.