Punjabi influencer Manjit Kaur dies nearly two months after assault and fire attack

Manjit Kaur, a 28-year-old Punjabi social media influencer with over 1.46 lakh Instagram followers, died at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh on August 26. She had been hospitalised since early July after a brutal assault.

According to a complaint filed by her mother, Kaur was allegedly kidnapped by two acquaintances, identified as Shubhi and Pinda, on July 3. The two reportedly called her to a spot near a liquor shop in Sector 34, Chandigarh, before taking her to Morinda in Punjab.

There, she was allegedly assaulted, tied to a tree, and set on fire. A friend who reached the location used a blanket to extinguish the flames and rushed her to a hospital in Morinda. She was later shifted to a private facility in Mohali and subsequently to PGIMER for specialised care.

The victim's mother has alleged that although her daughter regained consciousness on August 5, police from Kharar in Mohali did not respond to requests to record her statement. Authorities have denied this, stating they cooperated fully with the family.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those pertaining to murder and kidnapping. Chandigarh Deputy Superintendent of Police (South) Gurjeet Kaur said the investigation is ongoing, with efforts focused on tracing the accused. Police are reviewing CCTV footage and other evidence to establish the circumstances of the alleged kidnapping. The motive behind the attack has not yet been determined.