Manjeet Kaur, a 28-year-old social media influencer from Punjab, died on 26 August at PGIMER Chandigarh after battling severe injuries for nearly two months. She had been allegedly abducted, assaulted, tied to a tree and set on fire in early July.
According to a complaint filed by her mother, Kaur was lured to meet two acquaintances, identified as Shubhi and Pinda, near a liquor shop in Sector 34, Chandigarh, on 3 July. The pair allegedly forced her into a car and drove her to Morinda in Rupnagar district. There, they are accused of assaulting her, tying her to a mulberry tree and setting her on fire. A friend who reached the scene reportedly extinguished the flames using a blanket.
Kaur was initially treated at a hospital in Morinda before being shifted to Mohali. Due to the severity of her burns, she was referred to PGIMER Chandigarh on 9 July. She remained unconscious for several weeks. On 5 August, she briefly regained consciousness and reportedly described the incident to her family. Her condition later deteriorated, leading to her death on 26 August.
Police have stated that the motive for the alleged attack has not yet been determined. Kaur was divorced and is survived by her seven-year-old son.
Following her death, an FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita covering kidnapping, murder and joint criminal liability. The Sector 34 station house officer confirmed the case was registered on the basis of the mother’s complaint. Authorities are conducting raids to locate and arrest the two named suspects and are examining CCTV footage along with other evidence as the investigation proceeds.
In the weeks after the incident, a fellow influencer shared an update noting that Kaur was recovering and would eventually speak about the events herself. He urged the public to refrain from speculation, citing the fear experienced by Kaur and her family.
The case continues to be under active investigation as police work to apprehend the accused and establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack.