Social media creator Manjeet Kaur met a tragic end at PGI Chandigarh on August 26 while undergoing treatment for catastrophic burn injuries. The 28-year-old influencer was abducted from Chandigarh by individuals who took her to Morinda, tied her to a tree in a wooded area, and set her on fire. Having suffered extensive burns, she fought for her life in the hospital for roughly 54 days before succumbing to her injuries. Following a formal complaint lodged by her mother Kanta Devi, Chandigarh Police registered a case of kidnapping and murder, immediately launching a thorough investigation into the horrifying incident.
The Abduction and Horrific Sequence
According to the statement provided by Kanta Devi, two acquaintances named Shubhi and Pinda called Manjeet near a liquor vend in Sector 34, Chandigarh, late on the night of July 3. Both individuals were already known to her. Upon arrival, she was forcibly pulled into a car and driven toward Morinda. In a secluded area, she was tied to a mulberry tree in a forest before being set ablaze, causing severe physical trauma.
Rescue by Acquaintance and Extended Hospitalization
Shortly after the attack, an acquaintance arrived at the scene, extinguished the flames using a blanket, and rushed her to a local hospital in Morinda. Due to the critical nature of her condition, she was subsequently transferred to Max Hospital in Mohali and later referred to PGI Chandigarh on July 9. She remained unconscious for several weeks. When she regained partial consciousness on August 5, she recounted the harrowing ordeal to her family. Despite relentless medical intervention, her health deteriorated steadily, leading to her death on August 26. Her post-mortem examination was conducted at PGI, and the body has been handed over to the grieving family.
Background of the Victim and Legal Action
Residing in Sunny Enclave, Sector 123, Mohali, Manjeet was a divorcee and a mother to a seven-year-old son. She commanded a following of around 1.46 lakh users on Instagram, where she regularly posted reels featuring Punjabi and Haryanvi tracks alongside cosmetic product content. She also maintained a YouTube channel with approximately 4,000 subscribers. Following her death, Kanta Devi visited the Sector 34 police station to file a formal complaint. Consequently, law enforcement booked the accused under BNS sections 140(1) for kidnapping, 103(1) for murder, and 3(5) for joint criminal liability. Chandigarh SSP Kanwardip Kaur confirmed that an FIR has been filed based on the mother's complaint and search operations for the culprits are underway.
Controversy Over Statement Recording
SHO Inspector Shadi Lal of the Sector 34 police station stated that investigations are progressing. Meanwhile, the family alleged that once Manjeet regained consciousness, she expressed a strong desire to record her official statement. Although the PGI police outpost reportedly informed the Kharar Sadar police, the statement was never officially recorded. Rejecting allegations of negligence, Kharar DSP Ishan Singla explained that since the crime scene fell within Chandigarh's jurisdiction, the primary legal action rested with the Chandigarh Police, though Kharar authorities assisted the family in filing the FIR.
Ongoing Police Probe and Suspect Hunts
Investigators are currently reviewing extensive CCTV footage and thoroughly auditing Manjeet's Instagram profile. The account features disputes with other influencers along with video content containing explicit language directed at young men. According to police sources, Manjeet was reportedly in a live-in relationship with one of the suspects. Chandigarh DSP South Gurjit Kaur stated that actionable clues regarding the suspects have been uncovered, and police teams are conducting multiple raids to apprehend them.
