Thousands of mourners bid tearful adieu to Punjabi singer Moosewala; join his last ride on favourite tractor
The Hindu
The body of the 28-year-old singer-politician was brought to his home in Moosa village amid tight security on Tuesday morning from Mansa civil hospital, where the post-mortem was conducted.
A sea of mourners bid a tearful farewell to popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, who was cremated at his native village in Mansa district on May 31 afternoon.
The body of the 28-year-old singer-politician, who was shot dead on May 29, was brought to his home in Moosa village amid tight security on Tuesday morning from Mansa civil hospital, where the post-mortem was conducted. Moosewala's family, including his parents, were inconsolable as they sat beside the body at their home.
His mother was seen trying to console her husband as people from Punjab, Rajasthan and Chandigarh among other places queued up in large numbers to get a last glimpse of the singer. The singer's favourite tractor, which had figured in many of his music videos, was bedecked with flowers for his last ride to a family-owned field for the cremation.
Notwithstanding the scorching heat, mourners joined the funeral procession as Moosewala's father and mother stood on the tractor with folded hands, accompanying their son on his final journey. Some of his fans wore t-shirts with Moosewala's picture printed on them. The singer's father, Balkour Singh, even took off his turban on seeing the sea of mourners.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring was present during the funeral procession. A heavy police force was deployed at the slain singer's residence as well as at the cremation site. People heaped praises on Moosewala for his songs and even raised slogans in his favour.
"He was a good-natured man. He would never say no to anybody for a selfie. We are sad that he is not amongst us today," said a villager. Some villagers and fans expressed anger over the Punjab police pruning Moosewala's security cover just a day before he was shot dead and sought the strictest punishment for the killers.
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