The body of Bahujan Samajwadi Party founder and prominent Dalit leader Kanshi Ram was on Monday consigned to flames in New Delhi in the presence of top political leaders and a huge number of his supporters.

Two of his sisters and a brother and some other relatives were also present with police protection ordered by Delhi high court.

The family had sought his body for the last rites after a post-mortem, suspecting foul play in his death.

The cremation of the 72-year-old leader, who died late on Sunday night due to a stroke at his official residence, was carried out according to Buddhist tradition.

Top leaders from across the political spectrum, including Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, former Prime Minister I K Gujral, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi [Images], Rahul Gandhi [Images] and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj attended the funeral of Kanshi Ram.