Mystery death of Sikh leader's daughter

By Asit Jolly in Chandigarh

The authorities in the northern Indian state of Punjab have ordered an enquiry into the mysterious death of the daughter of an influential Sikh religious leader.

Harpreet Kaur, daughter of Bibi Jagir Kaur, died last week due to what her family members described as a severe bout of food poisoning.

But since her body was cremated without any postmortem examination, it has raised suspicions about the actual cause of her death.

Jagir Kaur: Heads a powerful Sikh committee

The Punjab Chief Minister, Prakash Singh Badal, has ordered the state's police chief to form a special team to carry out the investigation.

Soon after the death, reports in local newspapers suggested that Ms Kaur had been secretly married to a young man from her mother's village.

The reports quoted Ms Kaur's husband and his family alleging that she had indeed been killed.

Police say a senior inspector-general in charge of the crime branch will head the special investigation team.

Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh has issued notices to the state government, the state's police chief, as well as the victim's mother, Bibi Jagir Kaur, in connection with the death.

All three have been asked to submit their responses to the allegations levelled against them by the middle of next month when the case will next be heard.

Bibi Jagir Kaur heads a powerful committee of Sikhs in control of the most important shrines and religious institutions - the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee.