Singer Ishmeet Singh's family cries 'murder'

Ludhiana, July 31 (IANS) The family of singer and winner of reality show 'Voice of India' Ishmeet Singh, who died Tuesday in a resort in the Maldives, Thursday claimed he may have been murdered.

Doctors at the Dayanand Medical College and hospital (DMCH) Thursday commenced post mortem of the body, which arrived here late Wednesday from Maldives via New Delhi. According to the preliminary post mortem report, Ishmeet had died due to drowning.

However, just hours before he was scheduled to get a state funeral, Ishmeet's uncle Charan Kamal Singh said here Thursday that injury marks on the forehead and chest and the budding singer's swollen face had aroused suspicion that he 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," Ishmeet's uncle told reporters here.

Photographs of the singer's body clearly showed a black mark on his forehead. The final post mortem report would be made available by Thursday evening.

The 19-year-old singer had gone to Maldives for a promotional event with the music company with which he had a contract. Ishmeet left Mumbai Tuesday morning for the Maldives, where he was to perform Aug 1. However, he drowned Tuesday in a swimming pool at a beach resort.

Sources said police in the Maldives did not get a post mortem done since there are no facilities in the island country.

Ishmeet had Nov 26 last year won the 'Voice of India' singing contest, pipping his closest rival Harshit from Uttar Pradesh in a keen contest. He was given the winner's trophy by melody queen Lata Mangeshkar.

Supporters of the singer voted heavily for him from Punjab during the finals of the contest. Though Harshit led the votes tally in most regions of the country, the final count went in Ishmeet's favour due to heavy voting from Punjab.