Patiala, January 28
The cremation of Nabha resident Ranjodh Singh, who was found killed in Griffith in Australia on December 29, 2009, would be held at his native village Alhora (Nabha) on January 31. The body would reach New Delhi on January 30 and would be subsequently brought to his village.

Giving further details, Ranjodh’s younger brother Satnam Singh told The Tribune, “the Indian High Commission in Australia and Union Ministry of External Affairs have intimated our family that the body would be flown from Australia to New Delhi in a Thai Airlines flight. It is expected to reach New Delhi by January 30 morning. Satnam further said the body would be consigned to flames on Sunday.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur had already visited Ranjodh’s house in Nabha to express solidarity with his family and also to handover a cheque of Rs 2.5 lakh as ex-gratia.

Notably, Ranjodh had gone to Australia almost a year back and was into farming in Griffith, near Melbourne. He was earning full time, whereas his wife Kanchan was on student’s visa, studying in a college in Melbourne.

Ranjodh went missing on December 27 last and it was on December 29 that the Australian police found a burnt corpse of a youth, who was later identified as Ranjodh.