CHANDIGARH — Punjabi social media influencer Manjeet Kaur, 28, passed away at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh on August 26, nearly two months after she was allegedly abducted from Chandigarh, brutally assaulted, and set on fire in a forested area near Morinda.
Following a formal complaint by her mother, Kanta Devi, the Chandigarh Police registered a case of kidnapping and murder against two acquaintances, identified as Shubhi and Pinda. According to the complaint, the duo contacted Kaur on the night of July 3 to meet in Sector 34, Chandigarh, where they forcibly pushed her into a vehicle and transported her to Punjab. The accused allegedly tied her to a tree, assaulted her, and set her on fire before fleeing the scene. An acquaintance later discovered Kaur engulfed in flames, extinguished the fire with a blanket, and transported her to a local medical centre.
After receiving emergency care in Morinda and subsequent treatment in Mohali, Kaur was transferred on July 9 to PGIMER due to extensive burn injuries. Her death has brought local police coordination under scrutiny, with reports indicating that while Kaur briefly regained consciousness during treatment and expressed a desire to give a statement, no formal statement was recorded by investigating officials at the time. Punjab Police stated that because the abduction originated within Chandigarh’s jurisdiction, their personnel assisted the family in facilitating the case with Chandigarh authorities.
Special investigation teams are currently reviewing CCTV footage across Sector 34 and monitoring highway toll plazas to track the movement of the vehicle used during the crime. Raids are underway to apprehend both suspects as authorities examine the motive behind the assault. Kaur, a content creator based in Kharar with a substantial social media following, is survived by her seven-year-old son.
