Punjab singer and politician Sidhu Moose Wala was cremated on Tuesday at his native village in Mansa district. 

The 28-year-old was shot dead on Sunday. His body was brought to his home in Moosa village amid tight security from the Mansa civil hospital, where the post-mortem was conducted. The Punjab Police made its first arrest in the murder case. A suspect, Manpreet Singh, has been arrested was produced before a court, which sent him to police custody for five days, said an official.

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Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring was present during Moose Wala’s funeral procession. Earlier, Congress leader Sukhjinder Randhawa, BJP leaders including state unit chief Ashwani Sharma, Subhash Sharma and Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi met the family to condole the death.

Sidhu Moose Wala was dressed as a groom. His parents had been planning for his marriage until two days ago, the family said. The 28-year-old’s mother, who is the sarpanch of the village, had made a plait, and tied it into a knot as Sikh men do. A turban was then tied on Moose Wala’s head along with a sehra, which a Punjabi groom wears before leaving for the bride’s home.

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The singer’s father, Balkour Singh, took off his turban and held it out in his hands to express his gratitude on seeing the sea of mourners. 

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Why was Sidhu Moose Wala dressed as a groom?

Sikh men are dressed as a groom by their parents after death. Ot is a ritual followed in Punjab after a young unmarried man dies. The singer’s parents had been planning for his wedding. He was reportedly to get married by the end of this year. 

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The marriage, as per reports, was postponed after Moose Wala’s loss in Punjab Assembly elections in March. 

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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.