Ishmeet

Shocked over the untimely death of budding singer and Amul Star Voice of India 2007 contest winner Ishmeet Singh under mysterious circumstances in Maldives, his family and relatives on Wednesday sought an investigation into his death.

Ishmeet drowned in the swimming pool of a beach resort in Maldives on Tuesday. He had gone there to perform in a carnival to be held on August 1.

Even as scores of mourners kept pouring in at the singer’s family home in Shastri Nagar area, Ludhiana, on Wednesday, questions were being raised about the circumstances leading to the talented 19-year-old singer’s untimely death at the resort near Male, the capital of Maldives.

“He had a great career ahead of him. We cannot even understand how he can die so young? We are getting only sketchy reports from Maldives. Only those accompanying him can tell what actually happened. He did not know swimming. Why would he jump into the deep end of a pool?” questioned Ishmeet’s uncle Charan Kamal Singh.

His uncle said the mild-tempered, soft-spoken Ishmeet had no enemies.

Thousands of people have braved heavy rain to attend the funeral of an Indian singer who

A great soul

drowned while swimming in a pool at a resort in the Maldives.

Ishmeet Singh, 20, was buried near his home in the city of Ludhiana in the Indian state of Punjab.

His family meanwhile have been quoted by newspapers as questioning the circumstances of his death.

Mr Singh topped a nationwide singing contest on a leading Indian television channel last November.

He was in the Maldives to perform at a concert on Friday.

Staff say Mr Singh dived into the deep end of the swimming pool and ran into difficulties.

Shortly before the funeral, the singer’s uncle Charan Kamal Singh told the Hindustan Times paper that injury marks on his nephew’s forehead and chest – as well as his swollen face – had aroused suspicions that Ishmeet Singh may have been murdered.

“His death is not an accident alone. It could be part of a conspiracy. We want the matter investigated thoroughly. We want a case registered,” Mr Singh said.

The Punjab state government meanwhile has announced it will set up an Institute of Excellence for Performing Arts named after Ishmeet Singh.

It also says that it will order an inquiry into the causes leading up to his death.

His father, Gurprinder Singh Sodhi, lit the pyre of his only son as wreaths were laid on behalf of the Punjab chief minister and other dignitaries.

Ishmeet’s mother, relatives and family members all attended the ceremony.