Barnala, Oct. 12 -- The last rites of former panchayat member Sukhwinder Singh Calcutta, who was shot dead at the bus stand of Sehna village on October 4, were performed on Saturday, a day after his family and supporters called off a week-long protest.

The cremation followed the post-mortem examination, which was conducted after the family concluded their seven-day protest that began immediately after Calcutta's murder. The deceased's brother Sukhjit Singh lit the pyre.

Among those present at the cremation were Barnala MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhillon, former MLA Nirmal Singh Nimma and members of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar.

The week-long sit-in, staged by villagers and a 21-member action committee, was called off on Fri...