Unsavoury scenes at Kirpal’s cremation

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, April 20

The mortal remains of Kirpal Singh were consigned to flames at his native place here today, but not before an ugly spat over lighting of the pyre between his wife Paramjit Kaur and their “adopted” son Ashwani Kumar.

Kirpal had died under suspicious circumstances at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail last week and his body was handed over to India yesterday.

The body was brought from the Civil Hospital’s mortuary to Kirpal’s village Mustafabad Saidan around 9 am. After being kept at the family’s house for a few minutes, it was shifted to the village crematorium.

Sensing that the situation could get out of hand following infighting among the deceased’s relatives, Deputy Commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jagdeep Singh Hundal too reached the village.

Paramjit, who repeatedly claimed she was Kirpal’s “legally wedded” wife, argued that she be allowed to perform the last rites. Ashwani, on the other hand, claimed lighting the pyre was his right. It was only after the police intervened that Paramjit agreed to stay away and Ashwani consigned the mortal remains to flames. Earlier, Congress leader Parminder Gill too tried to pacify Paramjit and Ashwani.

Meanwhile, eyebrows were raised at the unwanted presence of Shiv Sena (Inqalab) activists at the cremation. The policemen, under instructions from the SSP, kept a watch on their movement. Even two hours after the cremation, tension was palpable, which forced senior police and administration officials to stay put till normalcy returned.