LUDHIANA: Punjabi singer Yashinder Kaur, popularly known as Inder Kaur, was allegedly murdered in a chilling plot police say was orchestrated by a Canada-based ‘suitor’ who travelled to India via Nepal, killed her within hours of her abduction, and fled the country the same night.The 29-year-old singer’s decomposed body was recovered from Neelon Canal near Kubba village on Tuesday, six days after she was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint from Ludhiana’s GTB Nagar area while out to buy groceries.Police suspect the murder was premeditated and executed soon after the abduction. Around 1km from where the body was found, investigators recovered Yashinder’s car submerged in the canal with bloodstains inside.“Initial investigation suggests she was shot inside the car and later dumped in the canal,” Jamalpur SHO Dalvir Singh said, adding that flowing water may have destroyed crucial evidence.Police have named Canada-based Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha, a native of Moga and allegedly close to the singer, as the prime accused. According to cops, Sukhwinder had travelled from Canada to India through Nepal specifically to target Yashinder.Assistant commissioner of police Inderjit Singh Boparai said Sukhwinder boarded a flight from Canada to Kathmandu on April 29, entered India on May 1, and allegedly escaped from Ludhiana immediately after the murder on May 13.Probe findings suggest Yashinder and Sukhwinder had been in a relationship for the past few years despite the accused being married and having two children. Police suspect tensions between the two escalated over marriage and financial disputes.“The family alleged Sukhwinder kidnapped her because she refused to marry him,” SI Dalvir Singh said.Yashinder’s brother Jyotinder told police she left home around 8.30pm on May 13 to buy groceries but never returned. Her phone was switched off shortly after, triggering panic among family members.Police later learnt she had allegedly been abducted at gunpoint less than 2km from her home.An FIR was initially registered for abduction and later upgraded to murder after the body was recovered. Police have arrested Sukhwinder’s father Pritam Singh and his associate Karamjeet Singh of Moga in connection with the case.Yashinder was known for her Punjabi songs and social media presence, with more than 1.2 lakh followers on Instagram.
