Ludhiana, Jan. 8 -- Two days after the daylight murder of former kabaddi player Gagandeep Singh, 36, in Manuke village of Jagraon, the grieving family on Wednesday performed his last rites finally amid heavy police security after receiving assurances from the Ludhiana rural police that all those involved in the killing would be arrested at the earliest.

Meanwhile, the police have intensified the crackdown in the case, taking the total number of arrests to five, including a woman. However, the prime accused, Gursewak Singh alias Mota, a resident of Manuke village who is said to have masterminded the attack, continues to evade arrest.

The family had earlier refused to cremate the body, demanding swift and decisive action against the accus...