Ishmeet's death a case of drowning, says Doctor

[rahul_parab2006]

LUDHIANA: The post-mortem conducted on Ishmeet's body showed the young celebrity singer died due to asphyxia even as the shattered family and shocked relatives, suspecting foul play, demanded a probe into his death.

The death of Ishmeet was simply a case of drowning, said Harvinder Singh, Senior Medical Officer of the Ludhiana Civil Hospital where the post-mortem on the singer was conducted.

The autopsy showed the 19-year-old singer died due to "asphyxia" (lack of adequate oxygen), he said here.

The post-mortem was conducted by a team of three doctors of the Civil Hospital following a request from the bereaved family, the Senior Medical Officer said.

Ishmeet's viscera had been sent to laboratories at Kharar and Patiala's Rajindra Medical College, he said.

Answering a question on injury on Ishmeet's head, he said it was a minor abrasion which could have been caused when he must have hit the floor of the swimming pool.

But, this abrasion could not be the cause of his death, the doctor said.

The singer's death was "simply a case of drowning", he said.

However, the grief-striken family and close relatives demanded a probe into the circumstances leading to Ishmeet's drowning.

"We are stressing for a probe into the circumstances leading to the drowning of the singer in the swimming pool of the hotel," Ishmeet's paternal uncle Charan Kamal Singh said.

"We suspect that there is some (foul play)...," another relative said.

Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Satpal Gosain supported their demand saying it was not clear how Ishmeet died in the swimming pool.

Paramjit Singh Khalsa, chief of the Sikh Students Federation (Mehta), too demanded a probe into the singer's death.

Ishmeet, the winner of the reality show 'Voice of India 2007', had gone to Maldives for a stage show on Friday.

But, the singer, who had won the hearts of millions with his mellifluous voice, was found drowned in the swimming pool of a hotel on Tuesday.

[rahul_parab2006]

LUDHIANA: The family of singer and winner of reality show "Voice of India" Ishmeet Singh, who died on Tuesday in a resort in the Maldives, on Thursday claimed he may have been murdered.

Doctors at the Dayanand Medical College and hospital (DMCH) on Thursday commenced post mortem of the body, which arrived here late on 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 on 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 on Tuesday morning for the Maldives, where he was to perform Aug 1. However, he drowned on 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 on 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.